Maybe he passed out rain checks for the next baptizer?
Seriously, Acts 28. Paul was delivered to Rome, made to live alone with a soldier. The Jews there came to listen to his case, Paul being a fellow Jew. They left with much disputing among themselves.
Paul rented a house for two years, not kept in a dungeon. There is no mention of any disciple moving in with him and his soldier keeper. He was allowed to preach, to receive guests without hindrance. There's the birth of the Church at Rome, not by way of Peter, BTW.
While there those two years we have this: Philippians 1:12-14 (KJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP] But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
[SUP]13 [/SUP] So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
[SUP]14 [/SUP] And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Caesar's household got the gospel? I think so, based on Philippians 4:21-22 (KJV)
[SUP]21 [/SUP] Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
[SUP]22 [/SUP] All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
No mention of water baptisms. I figure lots of folks became believers by his preaching once word got out about the palace saints. At least some of Caesar's household got saved.
Jesus didn't make enough of water baptism to make it high priority. Upon believing on Him we are saved, baptized into Christ spiritually. That's the main baptism, and we know there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
Paul didn't make a big deal out of it. He certified the few names he water baptized, there being none other.
WAIT. I find something Paul did that was his big deal, at least two decades after Jesus was glorified and men could receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:1-7 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
[SUP]2 [/SUP] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
[SUP]4 [/SUP] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] And all the men were about twelve.
I was a Southern Baptist originally, and I understand why Baptists don't like that passage. But it does establish that Paul didn't believe John's baptism was enough, and those disciples of John didn't either. If it was then those disciples didn't need that baptism Jesus would give according to what John taught those guys. And besides there's that pesky tongues thing. Slap my face!
There is no way John's water baptism has any effect upon the promise of God for salvation. It's a symbol.
But if you believe John's disciples got all they needed without what Paul introduced, then you might be saying you don't have the Holy Spirit. Can a believer do without Him?
Seriously, Acts 28. Paul was delivered to Rome, made to live alone with a soldier. The Jews there came to listen to his case, Paul being a fellow Jew. They left with much disputing among themselves.
Paul rented a house for two years, not kept in a dungeon. There is no mention of any disciple moving in with him and his soldier keeper. He was allowed to preach, to receive guests without hindrance. There's the birth of the Church at Rome, not by way of Peter, BTW.
While there those two years we have this: Philippians 1:12-14 (KJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP] But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
[SUP]13 [/SUP] So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
[SUP]14 [/SUP] And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Caesar's household got the gospel? I think so, based on Philippians 4:21-22 (KJV)
[SUP]21 [/SUP] Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
[SUP]22 [/SUP] All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
No mention of water baptisms. I figure lots of folks became believers by his preaching once word got out about the palace saints. At least some of Caesar's household got saved.
Jesus didn't make enough of water baptism to make it high priority. Upon believing on Him we are saved, baptized into Christ spiritually. That's the main baptism, and we know there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
Paul didn't make a big deal out of it. He certified the few names he water baptized, there being none other.
WAIT. I find something Paul did that was his big deal, at least two decades after Jesus was glorified and men could receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:1-7 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
[SUP]2 [/SUP] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
[SUP]4 [/SUP] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] And all the men were about twelve.
I was a Southern Baptist originally, and I understand why Baptists don't like that passage. But it does establish that Paul didn't believe John's baptism was enough, and those disciples of John didn't either. If it was then those disciples didn't need that baptism Jesus would give according to what John taught those guys. And besides there's that pesky tongues thing. Slap my face!
There is no way John's water baptism has any effect upon the promise of God for salvation. It's a symbol.
But if you believe John's disciples got all they needed without what Paul introduced, then you might be saying you don't have the Holy Spirit. Can a believer do without Him?
Last edited:
