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Particulars
of Christianity:
309
Baptisms
Acts
1: Parallel Account of the Great Commission
Preface for Baptisms Article Series
Baptisms: Introduction and Historical
Background
Original Proclamations about Baptism
Two Baptisms Occurring Separately
Baptizo: Two Baptisms, One Greek
Word
Synonymous Phrases: Baptism in the
Holy Spirit
Water Baptism in Jesus' Name
No Record of Paul's Water Baptism
Is Baptism Essential to Salvation?
Acts 1: Parallel Account of the Great
Commission
Necessity of Water Baptism: 3 Common
Arguments
Survey 1: Baptisms in Acts
The Baptism of Crispus (and Assuming
Evidence)
Survey 2: Baptism from Romans to
Revelation
Baptism and Hebrews 10:22
Conclusions: When and How Are We
Reborn?
Survey 3: Baptism and the Ante-Nicene
Authors
Closing: Water Baptism for the Right Reasons
At this point it bears mentioning again. The same Greek word (Strong's #907, 908) for baptism (or its derivatives) is used throughout the New Testament to refer to both John's baptism of water and the baptism of the Holy Spirit (ex. Acts 1:5). Therefore, we cannot just assume when we read the word "baptism" in a particular passage that it refers to water baptism. Nor should we assume that it refers to water baptism by default.
Similarly, we cannot automatically assume that the word baptism
refers to "baptism" in the Holy Spirit. Instead, we must look
at the context, not only the immediate context, but the context
of the entire New Testament. Only after examining the entire
New Testament will we be able to know which baptism we should
assume by default when the immediate context does not indicate
one or the other.
Here is the Greek word for baptism.
907 baptizo {bap-tid'-zo}
from a derivative of 911; TDNT - 1:529,92; verb AV - baptize
(76), wash 2, baptist 1, baptized + 2258 1; 80
1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels
sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean
with water, to wash one's self, bathe
3) to overwhelm
To answer the question of which baptism Jesus meant in Matthew
28 and Mark 16, we must first recognize that Matthew 28, Mark
16, Luke 24, and Acts 1 are all parallel passages. Therefore,
the command to baptize all nations came within the very same
exact context and timeframe when Jesus was reiterating to
the apostles the distinction between the baptism in the Holy
Spirit and baptism with water. This is a very important point,
so let's spend some time on it. Let's take a look at all four
of these parallel passages.
Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into
Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as
they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief
and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which
had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In
my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with
new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then
after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into
heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they
went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with
them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:
but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued
with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far
as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted
from them, and carried up into heaven.
Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up,
after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments
unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed
himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs,
being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled
together with them, commanded them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,
which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly
baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy
Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were
come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou
at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he
said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things,
while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him
out of their sight.
...22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same
day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained
to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
The first thing to recognize is that Mark 16, Luke 24,
and Acts 1:1-9 all conclude with the ascension of Christ into
heaven. Most scholars fail to connect the Acts 1 account to
the Gospel accounts of these events. But it is clear from
scripture that all of these passages including Matthew 28
are parallel accounts of the same events and teachings of
Christ before his ascension. Therefore, we can construct the
following composite of Jesus' interaction with the apostles
in the days following his resurrection and before his ascension.
1. In Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4-5, Jesus tells the apostles
not to leave Jerusalem until they are baptized in the Holy
Spirit.
2. In Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8,
Jesus commands the apostles to go into all the world and preach
the Gospel after they have received the baptism in the Holy
Spirit.
3. In Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8, Jesus tells them that they will receive power from the Holy Spirit. In Mark 16:17-18 Jesus tells them that signs will follow believers, including tongues.
4. In Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9 all record Jesus'
ascension into heaven AFTER he spoke these things to the apostles.
5. Mark 16:20 and the entire book of Acts (after Acts
2) record that the apostles did go forth and preach the Gospel
everywhere and that signs followed them (just as foretold
in Mark 16:17-18.)
The important thing to realize here is that Jesus' command to baptize in the Great Commission came in the context of and was preceded by three important statements, which clearly establish which baptism he was commanding the apostles to carry on. First, Jesus reiterates the teaching that John baptized with water and that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Second, Jesus tells them not to leave Jerusalem until they receive this baptism in the Holy Spirit. Third, Jesus states that after they received this baptism in the Holy Spirit that they would receive power to be witnesses, to go forth into the world and proclaim the Gospel, and that signs will follow them, including tongues. Having stated all of this he then commanded them to go into the entire world and baptize those who believed and accepted their message.
Notice also that the coupling together of a form of baptism
with miracle working power in Mark 16 further indicates that
it was baptism in the Holy Spirit that was meant in that passage.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak
with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and
if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So
then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received
up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And
they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working
with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
Amen.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly
there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and
it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling
at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together,
and were confounded, because that every man heard them
speak in his own language.
What is interesting from comparing this version of the Great
Commission in Mark 16 to Acts 2 is that both mention baptism
followed by tongues and witnessing to the nations. This further
indicates that the baptism in view in Mark 16 was baptism
in the Holy Spirit, the same baptism that preceded the apostles
speaking in tongues and witnessing to the nations in Acts
2.
Further evidence that Acts 1 is a parallel account of the
Great Commission found in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20,
and Luke 24:47-51 comes from Joel 2:29-32 and Acts 2:14-21.
Joel 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids
in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will
shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire,
and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible
day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:
for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as
the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall
call.
Here in Joel 2, the Lord declares that He will pour out his
Spirit upon his servants and that whoever calls upon the name
of the Lord will be saved. Peter quotes this passage from
Joel during his first sermon in Acts 2.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted
up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all
ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken
to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose,
seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this
is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it
shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will
pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on
my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those
days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will
shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath;
blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be
turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that
great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall
come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved.
The first thing to note from Peter's words here is that Peter
applies Joel 2 as an explanation for the apostles’ speaking
in tongues. Thus, Peter says that the speaking in tongues
is not drunkenness but it is what Joel spoke about when he
said that God will pour out his Spirit upon his servants.
However, we also know that the phrase "pouring out of God's
Spirit upon his servants" is a synonym for "baptism in the
Holy Spirit" since this is exactly what the apostles were
told to wait for by Jesus in Acts 1, where Jesus calls this
event baptism in the Holy Spirit. And lastly, notice that
in his quotation from Joel, Peter also associates receiving
this baptism in the Holy Spirit with calling upon the name
of the Lord and thereby being saved.
From the very origin of this concept in the book of Joel to Peter's affirmation of Joel's teaching when he receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit, we see that it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that is associated with calling upon the name of the Lord and being saved. Keeping in mind the progressive nature of divine revelation, in this connection between Joel 2 and Acts 2 we see another scriptural precedent, which would have dictated the apostle's understanding concerning which baptism the Lord was referring to in the Great Commission alongside his mention of receiving salvation. To further illustrate the parallel nature of these verses along with the controlling understanding that Joel 2 would have provided upon the Great Commission, we have listed these verses side by side below.
Joel 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids
in those days will I pour out my spirit...32 And
it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name
of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and
in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said,
and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs
shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:
but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued
with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far
as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted
from them, and carried up into heaven.
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded
them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait
for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard
of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence...
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken
these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud
received him out of their sight.
Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the
prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last
days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all
flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall
dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens
I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall
prophesy...21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Starting with Joel 2, which provides the earliest basis of this teaching, all of these passages include some combination of these same elements: God's servants receiving baptism in the Holy Spirit, salvation for those who receive baptism in the Holy Spirit, the apostles waiting in Jerusalem for baptism in the Holy Spirit, after receiving baptism in the Holy Spirit preaching the Gospel throughout all the nations, and Jesus ascending into heaven after teaching these things.
Based on all of this it should be abundantly clear which form
of baptism that Jesus was referring to when he commanded the
disciples "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost." From both the context and the prior revelation
of Joel 2 and Peter's application of Joel 2 in Acts 2, it
is obvious that in the last days before his ascension Jesus
was referring to baptism in the Holy Spirit and not baptism
in water when he gave the Great Commission and that the apostles
understood this to be the case. Having heard John teach from
the beginning that baptism in the Holy Spirit is the baptism
that the Christ would bring and having heard the Lord himself
restate this very teaching in the days between his resurrection
and ascension, the apostles clearly would have understood
the word "baptism" in the Great Commission to refer to baptism
in the Holy Spirit. In fact, any student of the gospels should have interpreted Jesus’ reference to baptism in the Great Commission in accordance with John the Baptist’s original proclamation that the Messiah would bring baptism, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit – a fact recorded in the beginning of Matthew and Mark both of which mention baptism in the Great Commission.
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