Acts 10:44-48 - Baptism and Time

Acts 10:44-48 - 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who save received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Message: Baptism and Time

Time: Clearly written by Luke, this book follows the lives of Peter and then Paul after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The book was completed about 62 AD as Paul sat in prison. It provides an account of the growth of the Church and spread from Jerusalem, from a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, and it should help us to be bold and have zeal in our walks with God. 

What the Lord is Saying: In these verses, my first observations are that the Holy Spirit fell upon these people and so the Holy Spirit is speaking truth. There were tongues heard and in this exalting God. And Peter orders those who have received the Holy Spirit to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. In Acts, I also notice that Peter is often the one connecting with baptism. 

In the previous lesson Paul made a connection between baptism and circumcision. The question then that just as circumcision did not save anyone, perhaps baptism is the same way. For the life of the Old Testament believer, the moment of regeneration could occur before or after the act of circumcision. Abraham believed God before circumcision while Isaac's faith came about when he was older. 

Tabletalk authors argue then that although baptism is often prescribed following a person's faith as in today's passage in Acts and we should have an urgency for people to be baptized, regeneration of the Christian can occur earlier or even after a person is baptized. 

Summary: Is baptism a new covenant sacrament and regeneration the same today as it was with circumcision in the old covenant? The idea here is that since regeneration occurred separate from circumcision, then with baptism this is also so. 

Promise: God does not always regenerate people at the time of baptism. We need to pray that all who are baptized are regenerated. 

Prayer: God, is baptism and circumcision the same? I do see that regeneration did not occur at the time of circumcision, so is this true today for baptism. I do see many examples in Acts of baptism happening right after regeneration or repentance. So does this mean they are tied together like many churches teach or is separate. It still seems to me that you will save people no matter what and that salvation has not changed throughout history. But, I pray that you would continue to illuminate me and give me patience for those with different convictions.