John the Baptist, Jesus’ relative, baptized both Jews and Gentiles as a sign of repentance and washing away of sins. People who came to John for baptism (by immersion in the river) were indicating a new direction in life, a conversion. Jesus Himself was baptized by John (see 392 [Jesus’ baptism]).
John had told his followers, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me . . . will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt. 3:11). Jesus baptized no one, although His disciples did (John 4:1–2).
Before He ascended into heaven, the risen Jesus told His followers, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Sprit” (Matt. 28:19).
Acts and the Epistles show the baptism was an essential part of publicly acknowledging onself as Christian. Paul refers to it many times. For him it was a symbol of dying as Christ died (the immersion under water) and rising up again. Baptism was a symbol of washing away one’s sins and of identifying with the dead and risen Christ.
The Bible does not mention baptizing infants—unless some infants are included in the jailer’s family of Acts 16:33: “He and all his family were baptized.”
All baptisms in the Bible were done by immersion. There is no mention of “sprinkling” or other methods used in churches today.
See 700 (baptism in the Holy Spirit).
