Lesson 364

(Lesson 364)(8-13-12) Acts 9:10-19, "And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus."

In this lesson, Ananias, following Jesus' instructions, went to Saul to restore his sight and to fill him with the Holy Ghost, which he subsequently did, "and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."
Those who believe water baptism is essential to eternal salvation, should take special note that water baptism (immersion), is not mentioned among the things Ananias was told to do for Saul. However, after Saul had received his sight and the Holy Ghost, this text clearly states that Saul was baptized (immersed) into something.
I can readily see how, because of the much misinterpreted use of the term "baptize" and its grammatical variations, one could ASSUME water was the medium into which Saul was immersed, but it would be just that, an assumption with no basis in fact.
The context leads me to believe that the baptism Saul was subjected to, was an immersion into, or a total subjection to, the divine will of Jesus Christ, or in my simple English, Saul gave himself over to the total acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Master and redeemer. He became immersed in Christ in the sense that is demonstrated in Galatians 3:27, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Saul essentially wrapped himself in Christ as one would put on a coat.
I do believe, seeing that the bible provides NO evidence that any of the other thirteen Apostles were baptized (immersed) in water, there would have been no explicit reason for Saul to have been baptized in water.
Saul, after his commitment to Christ, went on to Damascus where he spent several days with the other Apostles.~