On Baptism; Acts 14-16

May the mumbling commence!

Signs of salvation and conversion often happen before baptism.  It only confirms my thoughts that baptism is a public sign that only tells what has already happened in the life of a believer.  We see it in the scriptures – Cornelius and his family speaking in tongues.  We also see it in the baptism of the jailer’s family.  Read about the jailer from Acts chapter sixteen:

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God while the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, big enough to shake the foundations of the prison. Immediately all the doors flew open and everyone's chains were unfastened.

When the jailer woke and saw that the doors of the prison had been opened he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, for he imagined that all the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out to him at the top of his voice, "Don't hurt yourself – we are all here!"

Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and trembling all over, fell at the feet of Paul and Silas.

He led them outside, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

And they replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and then you will be saved, you and your household."

Then they told him and all the members of his household the message of God. There and then in the middle of the night he took them aside and washed their wounds and he himself and all his family were baptized without delay. Then he took them into his house and offered them food, he and his whole household overjoyed at finding faith in God. (Verses 25-34)

What a sign!  The earthquake had opened all the prison doors.  The jailer was sure all the prisoners had escaped.  He knew that his life was forfeit, so the jailer prepared to kill himself.

Paul called out to stop the jailer.  When the jailer saw that none of the prisoners were missing, he fell at the feet of Paul and Silas.  I wonder – did the jailer hear the hymn sing before the earthquake?  He asked Paul and Silas – What must I do to be saved?

The answer was simple.  Believe in the Lord Jesus.  Paul and Silas also explained to the jailer and his whole family the Good News of the message of God.

Did they speak in tongues, too – like Cornelius and his household?  No.  But there were other signs.  They tended Paul and Silas’ wounds.  They cleaned them up.  The care they showed for Paul and Silas was evidence of the Spirit moving in their lives.

Paul and Silas baptized the entire family without delay.

Such joy was in this home.  There was fellowship around the table in the wee hours of the morning – without delay.  The time for the salvation of the jailer’s family had come, and the celebration could NOT wait. 

This joy and fellowship was a continuing sign of the baptism of the Spirit that the jailer and his family had received.  Baptism is not the end of a journey but the beginning of a journey.  Thank God that we can walk this road of faith with all the children of God!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out