Here is a list of all the passages in the book of Acts that mention baptism. We can learn a lot about the importance of baptism since it is prevalent throughout the book of Acts when the early church was being established. In almost every case, believers were baptized immediately after salvation, highlighting the importance of quickly obeying the command to be baptized. All verses are ASV since it is in the public domain and legal to copy.
Passages on Baptism in the Book of Acts
Acts 2:37-41
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.
8:5-13
And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did. For from many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed. And there was much joy in that city. But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great. And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.
8:36-38
And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
9:10-12
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth; and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.
9:17-19
And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
10:47-48
Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
16:13-15
And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
16:27-34
And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.
18:5-8
But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
19:1-5
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
22:14-17
And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name. And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance
In your comment, “We can learn a lot about the importance of baptism since it is prevalent throughout the book of Acts when the early church was being established. In almost every case, believers were baptized immediately after salvation, highlighting the importance of quickly obeying the command to be baptized.
I want to know why you would say,”believers were baptized immediately after salvation,” this is not a true statement. To say that salvation is before baptism is absolutely wrong. Note in Acts 2:34-39, those who were there listen to Peter preach the Truth. When they believed what they heard they asked Peter and the rest of the Apostles, “brethren what must we do?” Peter gave the answer in Acts 2:38. “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38. If what you say is true baptism after salvation, then the Apostle Peter is wrong.
Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus before His ascension, commanded the disciples who would later become Apostles in Acts 2, 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20. This pretty much proves that the Apostles were speaking the truth. And
Since all authority belongs to Christ, and He commands His disciples, to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in The Name of The Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. Therefore your statement is putting “the horse before the cart.”
Joe, did you read Acts 10? The baptism of Cornelius and his family ? The were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit so evidently that the men Ruth Peter were convinced that Gentiles could receive the Holy Spirit (just as the Jews had). Cornelius and his family were commanded to be baptized after this (after salvation occurred).
Joe , I see what you are saying but i don’t think its putting the horse before the cart seeing as Justin showed the conversion of Cornelius. What needs to be established is to identify baptism as a part of the process of salvation. ST John 3:5- except a man be born of the water he cannot see the kingdom of God. See also Exodus 30:19-21 where the baptism is symbolized at the tabernacle- which also explains why Jesus had to be baptized because as the High priest he went into the Holy of Holies to offer the blood for our sins.
And what’s the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? It’s Jesus!
Wonderful 😊🤣
Everyone who acknowledge and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior should be baptized into the Name of Jesus Christ.
This is good stuff!
You mentioned born of water and spirit. We have examples in acts where they received spirit but needed to be baptized. Then, we have examples where they were baptized and later received spirit.
I think my revelation or enlightened thought is it takes both. One with out the other falls short of obeying all the scripture.
Thanks,
I am truly amazed, The subtleties of the unseen Adversary. He knows those who don’t search the scriptures DILIGENTLY so they not be taken by his deceit. Because everyone of us who was ever willing To turn our sins by receiving Gods only begotten Son Who Is filled with Grace and Truth
(John:316;1:14) we have received (EPHESIANS 2:6; Hebrew 4:16)ACCESS To THE THRONE of The Father, Because of the Bloodshed of His Son Jesus, Our Lord. WE MUST ALL be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) Who are WEREN’T willing to Receive and agree with Paul’s Preaching UNTIL They read the Scriptures. Have we not received The PROMISE of The HOLY GHOST (Acts 1:8;2:1-4; John 14:16) HE is Who gives us The wisdom and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus (Colossians 1:9, first Corinthians 2:9&10; Ephesians1:17&18)
I plead to you urgently asking PLEASE !!!!Search the Scriptures FOR YOUR SELF YOUR SOUL IS ETERNAL.