NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 13
1969
Baptism
Acts 2:38, 41
Matt 3:616; 21:25;
28:19
Mark 1:49;
10:3839; 11:30;
16:16
Luke 3:322;
7:2930; 12:50; 20:4
John 1:2536;
3:2223, 26; 4:12;
10:40
Acts 1:5, 22; 2:38,
41; 8:1213, 1617,
3638; 9:18; 10:37,
4748; 11:16; 13:24;
16:15, 33; 18:8, 25;
19:17; 22:16
Rom 6:34
1 Cor 1:1317; 10:2;
12:13; 15:29
Gal 3:27
Eph 4:5
Col 2:12
Heb 6:2
1 Pet 3:21
1 Jn 5:6
Baptism was an important element of the
Christian faith from the very beginning
(2:38; cp. John 4:12). Baptism is a ritual
cleansing that signifies the removal of im
purity and sin; it represents repentance from
sin and turning to God for forgiveness and
purification.
The words “baptism” and “baptize” were
already used in Judaism to refer to a reli
gious rite for cleansing. The law of Moses
established the use of water to cleanse
people from ceremonial defilement (Num
19:1419). Later, Gentile converts to Juda
ism from pagan religions were admitted to
Judaism only after fulfilling certain obliga
tions, which included the study of the Torah,
circumcision, and a ritual bath to wash away
the impurities of the Gentile background.
John had thus preached “that people
should be baptized to show that they had
repented of their sins and turned to God to
be forgiven” (Luke 3:3). John’s baptism was
an aspect of his role in preparing people’s
hearts to receive the Messiah (Luke 3:46),
and those who had received his baptism and
repented of their sins were those who were
prepared for Jesus’ message (Luke 7:2930).
After his resurrection, Jesus commanded
his disciples to baptize new converts (Matt
28:19). Christian baptism is understood as
dying and rising with Christ, signifying the
death of the old life and the beginning of
the new (Rom 6:14; Col 2:12). Thus baptism
signifies a Christian’s spiritual union with
Christ (Gal 3:27) and with his church. Bap
tism thus became the rite of initiation in the
Christian community. For this reason, many
interpreters see baptism as the Christian
equivalent of circumcision, the rite that
initiated membership into the nation of
Israel under the old covenant (Col 2:1112).
Whatever the connection with OT circumci
sion, baptism signifies a changed heart and
a clean conscience that come from God’s
forgiveness (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; Rom
2:2829; Phil 3:3; 1 Pet 3:21).
As a ritual cleansing, Christian baptism
signifies both forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38;
5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 26:18) and the reception
of the Holy Spirit (2:38, 41; 9:17; 10:4748;
11:1617; 19:57; Luke 3:16). Many interpret
ers see baptism as the outward confirmation
of the inward “seal” of the Spirit, whose
presence is a “guarantee” of the eternal
inheritance that awaits God’s faithful people
(2 Cor 1:2122; Eph 1:1314; 4:30; Titus 3:5).
MIKVAHS (Acts 2:41)
Mikvahs are baths used in Judaism for ritual cleansing on a number of different
occasions. When Gentiles converted to Judaism, they would immerse themselves in
water as a part of the process of becoming a proselyte. There were mikvahs at many
synagogues, and the Temple in Jerusalem had a large number of mikvahs, which suggests that those who approached for worship would ritually bathe. These pools were
probably used to baptize the new followers of Christ on the day of Pentecost (2:41).
BELOW: Mikvah at the temple mount in Jerusalem,
LOWER LEFT: Modern day baptism in the Jordan River
