Like Paul
by Timothy A. Southall
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Some people claim, "I'm like Paul. I don't
baptize." Then they quote 1
Corinthians 1:17 where Paul states he wasn't sent to baptize
but to preach. These individuals who claim to be like Paul preach the word
of God and no one is baptized as a result of their preaching, thus not
fulfilling the great commission (Matthew
28:18-20).
I will agree that Paul may not have baptized
many, but when he preached, people who believed
were baptized. Paul
always had a companion or helper who baptized individuals. Let's look further
into Paul's conversion and some of those he helped to convert.
Paul's conversion. Paul was
struck blind by the Lord on the road to Damascus while he was on his way
to persecute Christians. He was blind three days and did not eat or drink
anything. Christ sent Ananias to Paul and when Ananias placed his hands
on Paul, something like scales fell from Paul's eyes. Paul then got up
and was baptized. Then he ate some food. (See Acts
9:1-19.) Also note Paul was baptized before he ate,
even though he hadn't eaten for three days. This shows how important baptism
is. Another account of Paul's conversion is found in Acts
22:8-16. Here, Paul states he was told to get up, be baptized,
and wash his sins away, calling on His name. Paul himself was baptized
and knew it was vital.
Lydia and household's conversion.
When Paul and Timothy got to Philippi, they spoke the word of God. Lydia
responded to Paul's message. She and her household were baptized (Acts
16:11-15):
One of those listening
was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira,
who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's
message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited
us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said,
"come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.--Acts
16:14-15 (NIV)
The Jailer. When Paul and Silas
were severely flogged and thrown into jail, they got a chance to speak
the word of God to the jailer and all the others in his household. The
jailer and his family were baptized that very hour of the night (Acts
16:16-34):
They replied, "Believe
in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." Then
they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds;
then immediately he and all his family were baptized. --Acts
16:31-33 (NIV)
At Corinth. When Paul and Silas
got to Corinth, they spoke the word of God to the Corinthians. Here again,
many of those who heard them believed and were baptized (Acts
18:8):
Crispus, the synagogue
ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians
who heard him believed and were baptized.--Acts
18:8 (NIV)
In Ephesus. While Paul was in
Ephesus, he found some disciples who had been baptized with John the baptist's
baptism of repentance. Here, Paul felt it was important enough for them
to be baptized again, but into the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts
19:1-7):
On hearing this, they
were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.--Acts
19:5 (NIV)
Conclusion. As you can see,
Paul might not have been the one who literally did the baptizing, but when
he spoke the word of God and they believed, they were immediately baptized,
day or night. That is how important baptism is. So, if you are like
Paul, people who listen to you speak the word of God will be baptized when
they believe.
Copyright © 2000 Timothy
A. Southall. All rights reserved.
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