. . . there are many reasons to
reject [A.T. Robertson’s] interpretation of this passage. First, the very
existence of the causal sense of eis is a disputed point among Greek
scholars. Second, and more to the point, the wider use of eis with “forgiveness
of sins” as it objects consistently shows forgiveness to be the result of eis,
not the condition of eis. Matthew 26:28 describes the forgiveness of
sins as the result of the pouring out of the blood of Christ. Luke 24:47 (in
some manuscripts) envisions the forgiveness of sins as the result of preaching
the gospel to all nations. Both Mark 1:4 and Luke 3:3 describe John’s baptism
as a request for forgiveness of the sins confessed in baptism. It is, then,
natural to read Acts 2:38 as a statement that forgiveness is sought by baptism.
(Stanley K. Flower, Rethinking Baptism: Some Baptist Reflections [Eugene,
Oreg.: Wipf and Stock, 2015], 17, comment in square brackets added for clarification)