Acts 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.… Mr. A. Wills, whose work for Christ was much blessed at Hang-Chan. He says: "I examined a poor sick man this morning, who is anxious to be baptized. He was first brought to hear the gospel through coming for medicine, about a year ago, and since then I have baptized his wife. He was examined some months ago, but the Church thought it best for him to wait a little for further instruction. His sickness has become worse, and now all hope of recovery is past, and he again asks for baptism. He said, 'I expect to die in a few days,' and upon my asking where he thought his soul would go, he promptly replied, 'To heaven.' 'Why?' 'Because Jesus on the Cross died to save sinners; I am a sinner, and I trust Him to save me.' 'But,' said I, 'if you die before you are baptized, do you then expect to go to heaven?' 'Oh, yes,' he said, 'because it is the blood of Jesus that saves the soul.' 'Then why do you in your weak and dangerous state wish to be baptized?' 'Because,' he said, 'it is the duty of every Christian to obey the commands of Jesus, and not be ashamed of Him. I worshipped idols for forty-two years, and was not ashamed of the devil's works; and now, before I die, I want to let my sons and neighbours know that I am not ashamed of Jesus Christ.' I asked him many other questions, one of which was, 'Are you not afraid of the cold water doing you harm?' He replied, 'Oh, no, I don't fear that, because I have prayed to Jesus to help me.' We baptized him, and a week later he was called up into the presence of his Saviour." Parallel Verses KJV: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. |
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