What is the Baptism in Acts 2:38?

What is the baptism mentioned in Acts 2:38? According to many in the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement, this is water baptism. They say that water baptism is necessary to be saved. But is this really water baptism?

First, we have to ask ourselves what is water baptism. Water baptism symbolizes that we are buried with Him, and raised with Him into a new life in Christ. Just as water cleanses the flesh, so the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts when we trust Christ. This is how water baptism illustrates the spiritual cleansing we experience when we are saved. Paul demonstrates this to us in Romans 6:3-7 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

So now that we know what water baptism is, we need to ask the second question. At what time do you get baptized? Let’s take a look! Baptism events in Acts demonstrate the belief that baptism is to take place immediately after conversion. Let’s start in Acts 2:41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” You will notice that it was those who actually received the word that were baptized, not those who rejected the word, as the wicked cannot receive the word unless the Holy Spirit gives them a new heart first. Those who received the word are the ones who the Lord called to Himself (v.39). In Acts 10, we read of the story of Cornelius, the Roman Centurion, who was a Christian before he sent for Peter. We know this because we are told in verse 1 that he was “a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.” After Peter preached the gospel, he then commanded them to be baptized in verse 48. Interestingly enough, in the previous couple of verses, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all who were there while Peter was still speaking. In this case, water baptism was done AFTER they had received the Holy Spirit. This should be evidence enough that water baptism is not a means to receive salvation!

In Acts 16 we see that water baptism was done after repentance as Paul told the jailer verse 31 to “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Notice that Paul did not say here to believe and be baptized, but to just believe and you will be saved. This falls in line with the rest of scripture of believing to be saved. Just as Abraham believed God, it was counted to him as righteousness and was called a friend of God (James 2:23). All through scripture we see that we are saved by grace through faith, and by faith we believe what God has spoken!

In Matthew 28:19 we’re told “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We should all recognize this passage as the great commission. We read “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…”. Who are the them mentioned here? The word them points back to those who were made disciples, not those who are not disciples. It evidently clear that we are to baptize only those who have repented and believed, not the unrepented!

So, what is this baptism if it is not water baptism?

The baptism here is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now this baptism of the Holy Spirit is not what we see in the book of Acts, as that was for the building of the church. What we see in Acts is not the norm. Rather, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the act of being baptized into the body of Christ as we see in 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” This is the only baptism of the Holy Spirit and it happens at the moment of salvation. Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

In conclusion, the baptism mentioned in Acts 2:38 is not water baptism, but rather the baptism by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ.