Lesson 692

(Lesson 692)(07-12-13) The next two usages of the term "baptized" are found in Acts 8:36-38, however for contextual purposes, we will include verses 26 through 38, "And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."

The medium into which the eunuch was "baptized" was clearly water as evidenced by the fact that the text states they, "went down both into the water".

The significance of this lesson is expanded by the fact that Philip insisted that the eunuch confess that he believed with all his heart, clearly placing the water "baptism" AFTER a confession of faith, or acceptance of the doctrine of Christ.

Remember that we made a point earlier in this series of lessons, that until the ascension of Christ, all water "baptisms" were performed BEFORE salvation, or UNTO repentance. This text provides one of the examples that water immersions (baptisms) were performed ONLY AFTER a candidate had made a profession of faith, or had be "baptized" INTO, or put on "the name of" Jesus Christ.~