The what, who, how, and why of Acts 2:38

Why I am baptized in the name of Jesus.

I am baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of my sins.

The meaning of “remission” is: “forgiveness, pardon, of sins (properly, the letting them go, as if they had not been committed), remission of their penalty:” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

Remission of sins is through the name of Jesus.

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. [He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.]" - Acts 10:43

Jesus spoke to His disciples,

"Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luke 24:46-47 KJV

Beginning in Jerusalem, Peter preached repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

We claim the death of Jesus for ourselves when we repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4 KJV

Because of His death and burial applied to our life by repentance and water baptism in the name of Jesus, we receive the promise of the gift of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to live a new life in Christ.