How does Acts 19:3 connect with Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19 about baptism? Text of the Key Verses • Acts 19:3 – “So Paul asked, ‘Into what, then, were you baptized?’ ‘The baptism of John,’ they replied.” • Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Context in Acts 19 • Paul encounters about twelve disciples in Ephesus (Acts 19:1–2). • They had received “John’s baptism,” which was a baptism of repentance pointing forward to the coming Messiah (Acts 19:4; cf. Mark 1:4). • They had not yet heard that the Holy Spirit had been given, indicating they were unaware of the fullness of the gospel accomplished through Jesus’ death and resurrection. What Jesus Commanded in Matthew 28:19 • Baptism is to be administered “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” • This charge comes after the resurrection, under the full authority of the risen Christ (Matthew 28:18). • The command is missional (“all nations”) and Trinitarian, declaring the completed redemptive work of God. Connecting the Two Passages 1. Progression of Revelation – John’s baptism prepared hearts (Luke 3:3). – Christian baptism proclaims faith in the Triune God and the finished work of Christ (Acts 2:38). 2. Authority – John ministered as the forerunner (John 1:23). – Jesus, risen and exalted, now commissions His church with ultimate authority (Matthew 28:18–19). 3. Content of Faith – John’s followers awaited the Messiah still to come. – In Acts 19, Paul leads them to explicit faith in Jesus, after which they are baptized “into the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5), fulfilling Matthew 28:19’s intent. 4. Reception of the Holy Spirit – After Christian baptism, Paul lays hands on them; they receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:6), matching the promise of Matthew 28:20 (“I am with you always”) and Acts 2:38. 5. Unity of the Gospel – Both passages uphold repentance and faith, yet Acts 19 shows that baptism must now align with the post-resurrection gospel Jesus authorized. Theological Implications • Only baptism that confesses the Triune God and the risen Jesus aligns with Scripture’s full revelation. • Christian baptism publicly identifies believers with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). • The presence of the Holy Spirit validates the new covenant status of baptized believers (Acts 10:44-48). Practical Takeaways for Believers Today • Examine whether your baptism reflects conscious faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. • Recognize that true baptism is inseparable from receiving the gospel of the crucified and risen Christ. • Embrace the mission: baptized believers are sent to make more disciples, continuing the pattern shown by Paul in Acts 19. |
    |