What Did Peter Teach About Baptism? (Part II)

Last week we began looking at what the apostle Peter taught regarding baptism. The week before that we looked at the actions and teaching of Christ on the subject. This week we continue looking at what Peter has to show us about this matter.

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 10:44-48 (KJV)

This passage is part of a much larger context that covers the entirety of chapter ten as well as most of chapter eleven. I encourage you to read that entire portion of scripture before reading the comments below.

One of the first things we note is that Cornelius was a gentile. This is important as up to that point only Jews and proselytes had obeyed the gospel. Much of this passage has to do with the fact that salvation is open and available to all men and women, regardless of their background, nationality, race, culture, or ancestry. As we see in this passage, baptism and salvation is available, as shown by the Holy Spirit falling upon these gentile individuals.

It is worth noting that Peter commanded that they be baptized. One of the things that can be quickly seen is that when something is commanded in scripture, it is because it is absolutely essential. We are commanded to have faith (I John 3:23), and understand that belief is essential to our salvation. We cannot choose which commandments of God we want to follow: all are equally binding and necessary. And as Peter here is speaking, and commanding, according to the will of God (Matthew 28:18-20, II Timothy 3:16), this command to be baptized is necessary in order to follow Christ.

And this commandment was not simply given to Cornelius and his household, but is equally binding to all. To take an example from the paragraph above, John did not personally write to me or you and state that the Lord's command is to believe, but that does not mean that we assume that this command was only for those John addressed his letter to. God, not being a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) has made His will equally binding upon all mankind.

Some would look at the fact that the entire household of Cornelius was baptized as proof of infant baptism. This, however, makes an assumption that there were infants and/or small children in Cornelius' household. It is entirely possible to have en entire household that does not contain infants. I have known any number of families, even large families where the entire extended family lived under one roof, where there were no small children. To make the assumption that “household” necessarily means there were children is illogical.

The assumption that infant baptism is taught in this passage also fails to fit into the text itself. We can see was baptized: they were one who had heard the word of God and, in this case, upon whom the Holy Spirit had fallen.

The capacity to hear and understand is essential in order to be baptized. Without knowledge of what the Lord wants, one cannot follow Him. Without understanding, one cannot apply the Lord's will to his or her life. Without hearing the word of God which gives knowledge and understanding, how could anyone know about baptism to begin with?

We also see that in this example, the Holy Spirit had granted gifts to those that heard the word. When Paul discusses spiritual gifts in the twelfth through fourteenth chapters of I Corinthians, he writes that understanding is necessary and essential for properly using those gifts. (I Corinthians 14:15-17) If the household of Cornelius contained infants, then those infants, though incapable of understanding, were given gifts which required understanding. This is illogical.

And we see that is those who heard the word and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:47) that were baptized. It is inconsistent and unreasonable to assume that infants, small children, or others who were unable to understand the word and will of God were baptized in this instance.

It is also, perhaps, necessary to make a note on the Holy Spirit coming upon these individuals before they were baptized. There are only two instances in the New Testament of the Holy Spirit falling upon people in this way. The first is in Acts 2, to indicate that the apostles were accepted by God and what they spoke was by His will and authority. Here we see a similar purpose: to indicate God's acceptance of gentiles into the faith.

Next week, Lord willing, we will begin looking at what the apostle Paul had to say about the subject of baptism.