Acts of the Apostles & Baptism

[GodSoldier]

I am about half-way through reading the Book of Acts, and I came upon some confusion last night pertaining to Baptism.

In Acts (8:12-17), it says;

12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

*14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: *

*15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: *

*16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)**17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. *
**

This passage tends to show in verse (12) that the act of believing baptised the followers in the name of Lord Jesus- But that recieving the Holy Spirit was a separate act that befell them when the Apostles layed their hands on them.

Farther on in the book, Acts (11:16) makes a distinction between the water baptism that John was called by God to give, and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit that the Apostles gave.

16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

It’s not clear from this that the Apostles were necessarily following the water baptism tradition of John, or if it was a purely spiritual baptism brought on by followers coming to believe in the good word.

To add confusion, in another story- the one of the apostle and the Ethiopian- the Apostle comes across the Ethiopian reading from Isaiah. He helps the man to understand the scripture and the man believes and feels compelled to be baptised. There being water near-by, the apostle baptises him in it.

This is what confuses me.
What is baptism as revealed in this Gospel?

-By believing, one is Baptised- but does not recieve the holy spirit until the laying of the hands…
-They are a believer, and by water baptism they recieve the holy spirit…
-Baptism by water gives one the holy spirit so that they may believe
-Or another option I am missing?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The first passage in Acts was used by God to provide for the offering of Salvation to the Gentiles. Remember that to this point the apostles were only proclaiming the Gospel to the Jews and God needed to correct this. They were Justified by hearing and accepting the Gospel, were Baptized in water, and then the apostles lay hands (Confirmation) on them. An adult is justified when they profess belief in the Gospel of Christ. They receive the Holy Spirit in water Baptism and again receive the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, which the Church calls the completion of that which was begun in Baptism…

 

[GodSoldier]

Br. Rich SFO:

The first passage in Acts was used by God to provide for the offering of Salvation to the Gentiles. Remember that to this point the apostles were only proclaiming the Gospel to the Jews and God needed to correct this. They were Justified by hearing and accepting the Gospel, were Baptized in water, and then the apostles lay hands (Confirmation) on them. An adult is justified when they profess belief in the Gospel of Christ. They receive the Holy Spirit in water Baptism and again receive the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, which the Church calls the completion of that which was begun in Baptism…

Can you clear up Acts 8:16,17 for me a little more. It reads as if the Gentiles were water baptised, but the holy spirit was not given to them like it would be in water baptism for Jews.

Was it that at that time, Peter and John were the only apostles told that God wanted the Gentiles to have the full reward of baptism?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

GodSoldier:

Can you clear up Acts 8:16,17 for me a little more. It reads as if the Gentiles were water baptised, but the holy spirit was not given to them like it would be in water baptism for Jews.

Was it that at that time, Peter and John were the only apostles told that God wanted the Gentiles to have the full reward of baptism?

I was thinking about Acts 10:44-48 when I answered before.

The Douay says this about 8:16:

They received the Holy Spirit in Baptism but not in the fullness with which He is received in Confirmation. Because Philip was only a Deacon and could not Confirm at the time of Baptism as the apostles could.