A few more observations are in order. You will observe that in every case of conversion in the book of Acts, they were all baptized. This is without exception and in most cases, they were baptized the same hour of the night or immediately. We have emphasized why we believe that is important. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “Preach the gospel to every creature; he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. He that disbelieves shall be condemned.” It is difficult to imagine how anyone can say that baptism is not a salvation issue when you read this text. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. It does not say, “He that believes will be saved and then should be baptized as a sign of an inward grace. The salvation comes after the word “baptism”, not before it. In every case, baptism never follows salvation. It precedes salvation each and every time.
Some would suggest that in some cases, it is omitted and is, therefore, not included as a condition of salvation. Acts 16:29 is used as a proof text for this view. Paul and Silas were in prison and when the doors opened and stocks loosed, a jailor who was may have been about to take his own life was told to do himself no harm because the prisoners had not escaped. When he brought Paul and Silas out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” He was told to “believe on the Lord Jesus, and he would be saved, and his house.” Believing that Jesus is the Son of God is certainly required as the first thing to do. Although, the Jews on Pentecost were not told to believe because they already did. Like taking a trip in which one may stop along the way for instructions, the directions change according to where one is along the journey. There was no need to speak of belief to the Jews on Pentecost. They had already come to that point on the journey. In Acts 16, the jailor had not reached this point. But, as you will see in the following verses, Paul and Silas spoke unto him the word of the Lord. Just like the case of the Ethiopian in Acts 8, after Philip preached Christ to him, they came to a certain water and the man asked, “What hinders me to be baptized? He was told he could if he believed and after his confession, Philip baptized him. Baptism is always the natural response of the sinner who is taught the gospel. Acts 16:33 explains that after he was taught by Paul, the jailor “took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.”
1 Peter 3:21 tells us that “baptism” does now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”. Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12 speak of being “buried with him by (or “in”) baptism (ïnto death”, Rom. 6:4). Baptism is not a physical cleansing in a water tank. This doesn’t preclude that it has nothing to do with water; only that the water is not intended to clean the physical body. Instead, it is the answer (response) of a good conscience.
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