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Articles

Cornelius  and Baptism - Acts 10

Cornelius  and Baptism - Acts 10

This story changes the whole course of church history. He is set forth as the proof that the gospel of Jesus is for ‘every nation’ and ‘every person’ (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

After a rather intense interaction with God, he hears the gospel as told by Peter. (Read again Acts 10!) Then, God displayed His acceptance of this non-Jewish believer with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon them.

Yet the great commission not only told WHO was to have this gospel preached to, it also informed the apostles what to do with those who responded to the message, believing the message and trusting Jesus. The commission stated that they were to ‘make disciples’ – baptizing them and teaching them to keep all the teachings of Jesus (Matt. 28:18f). Mark records that believers are to be baptized which would result in their being saved (Mark 16).

Thus Peter fulfills this by challenging the brethren (and Cornelius and those with him): Can anyone forbid water that these should not be baptized? THEN, he ‘ordered’ (NASB95, NIV) ‘commanded ‘(ESV, ASV, NKJV, CSB),  them to be baptized (in water) in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:45). This baptism in water was the baptism of the great commission. This baptism of the great commission was ‘in the name of Jesus’. The baptism in the name of Jesus was ‘for the remission of sins’ (Acts 2:38). As many of those who received the gospel message were baptized.

YET, this very first test of faith is ignored, denied, or rejected by many people today. Many preachers simply do not command people to be baptized in the name of Jesus. Yet, the instructions of the great commission and the examples of how the apostles carried it out are still our guide today.   

Hugh DeLong