Baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Over the last two weeks, we have been learning about baptism. Jesus said that we must baptize others as we make disciples. Therefore, we must both be baptized and learn to baptize others.

Jesus’s Command

Jesus’s command to baptize others came in the midst of what we, today, call the Great Commission. Here is what he said:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Matthew 28:19

Here is a video that recounts Jesus giving this commandment to his disciples:

What is Baptism?

Jesus has given us the commandment to go and baptize others, but what is baptism?

Baptism is a way to publicly say and show that we have died to our old life and been raised to a new spiritual life with God because we now have given our life to Jesus and follow him.

Jesus himself was baptized. His baptism was a demonstration of his identification both with us as human beings as well as an identification of his divinity as God speaks from heaven saying that Jesus is his beloved Son!

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:13-17

Here is a video of that same story:

Important Questions

There are some additional important questions that we should consider related to baptism. Here are some of the questions that we want to consider connected to a series of scriptures that we will read below:

• Why was this person / these people baptized?
• When were they baptized?
• Where were they baptized?
• Who baptized them?

To answer these questions, we want to look at the following scriptures in the Bible where we see baptisms occur or discussed so that we can understand the answers to these questions more clearly:

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Acts 2:36-41

Question	Answer
Why were these people baptized?	They accepted the message of repentance and belief for the forgiveness of their sins.
When were these people baptized?	The same day that they heard the message from Peter.
Where were they baptized?	It isn’t specified in the text, but we can assume that they were still in Jerusalem where they heard Peter’s preaching.
Who baptized them?	Again, it isn’t specified, but we can assume that the disciples baptized these new believers.

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

Acts 8:6-13

Question	Answer
Why were these people baptized?	They believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God.
When were these people baptized?	When they believed what Philip preached to them.
Where were they baptized?	Not specified except that they were in Samaria.
Who baptized them?	Presumably Philip, although it doesn’t specifically say this in the text.

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

Acts 8:34-38

Question	Answer
Why was this person baptized?	He believed the good news about Jesus.
When was this person baptized?	Immediately after believing, he asked to be baptized.
Where was he baptized?	In water along the side of the road.
Who baptized him?	Philip

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Acts 9:17-19

Question	Answer
Why was this person baptized?	Jesus had appeared to him and he was blind. As Ananias placed his hands on him, he received the Holy Spirit and was able to see again.
When was this person baptized?	Immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit and being able to see.
Where was he baptized?	Not specified, although he had been in a house on Straight Street.
Who baptized him?	It is not specified, but presumably Ananias baptized Paul.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Acts 10:44-48

Question	Answer
Why were these people baptized?	The Holy Spirit came upon them as they believed what Peter was telling them about Jesus.
When were these people baptized?	Immediately
Where were they baptized?	Not specified except that they were all in Cornelius’s house.
Who baptized them?	The people that traveled with Peter.

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Acts 16:13-15

Question	Answer
Why were these people baptized?	The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to believe the message that Paul gave. It is interesting to note that it says Lydia believed, but all of her household was baptized.
When were these people baptized?	Immediately
Where were they baptized?	It doesn’t say precisely, but they are already sitting near a river, so it may be in that location.
Who baptized them?	Paul, or possibly his traveling companions, which were Timothy, Silas, and Luke at that time.

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved —you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.

Acts 16:29-33

Question	Answer
Why were these people baptized?	They did as Paul and Silas told them, which was to believe in the Lord Jesus.
When were these people baptized?	Immediately
Where were they baptized?	Not specified – somewhere in Philippi
Who baptized them?	Paul, or possibly his traveling companions, which were Timothy, Silas, and Luke at that time.

Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

Acts 18:7-8

Question	Answer
Why were these people baptized?	They believed in the Lord Jesus.
When were these people baptized?	Upon believing.
Where were they baptized?	Not specified – somewhere in Corinth
Who baptized them?	Paul, or possibly his traveling companions, which were Timothy, Silas, and Luke at that time.

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 19:1-5

Question	Answer
Why were these people baptized?	They believed in Jesus.
When were these people baptized?	Upon believing.
Where were they baptized?	Not specified – somewhere in Ephesus
Who baptized them?	Paul

What can we conclude?

Now let’s look back over each of these and think about how we can summarize what we have read and learned based on each of these passages.

Why were the people baptized?

Each of the baptisms were based upon their believing the message about Jesus. In addition, a couple of the situations included a message about, or having received, the Holy Spirit.

When were these people baptized?

Again, there is consistent response to this question. Each of the baptisms took place immediately upon having believed in the message of Jesus. There was no additional waiting or learning that took place in these cases. Repentance and belief are the only things that we can see was required for the people within these stories.

Where were they baptized?

I think we can essentially say that they were baptized where there was water. At times, we can see a body of water such as a pond or a lake. Other times, we can see a river within the story. Most of these stories took place prior to a church being developed, so it would be unlikely that these baptisms would have taken place within any type of church building.

Who baptized these people?

The apostles, or those that they appointed, baptized these new believers. Those that made the disciples were responsible for baptizing those who believe.

How can you baptize another person?

It isn’t a difficult process, but for a new person making disciples, having a guide may be helpful. Here is a guide that you can use to learn to baptize a new believer.