The Nugget:
Act 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. (KJV)
Act 16:15 And when she was baptized and her family, she intreated us saying, Since ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us. (Wesley’s NT)
Act 16:15 She devoted herself to the Lord, and we baptized her and her entire family. Afterward she urged us to stay in her home, saying, “Since I am now a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” So we were persuaded to stay there. (TPT, The Passion Translation)
My Comment:
Years ago I wrote a short outline about the controversial subject of baptism. I think I prepared this outline because, as an ordained Presbyterian Elder, I was asked to perform a baptismal service for the young children of one of my first students in my career as a teacher in the Detroit Public Schools. I thought it appropriate to give the Bible evidence that authorized what was done in such a service.
My public school student was converted to Christ as she read each succeeding volume of the Living Bible when those first came out. I bought the volumes so another one of my students from that very same class who also attended my high school Sunday school class could loan them to her.
The Outline:
Household baptisms:
- Acts 16:15. Lydia. Household = family and must include INFANTS. See the same root word used at 1 Timothy 5:14–“Guide the house” = rule the infants. Compare 1 Timothy 3:4, 12.
- Acts 11:14. Cornelius, household.
- 2 Timothy 4:19. Onisiphorus. 2 Timothy 1:16, 18.
- Acts 16:34. Jailer and household.
- 1 Corinthians 1:16. Stephanus, household.
Mode of baptism in the New Testament = sprinkling
- Hebrews 10:22, hearts sprinkled, bodies washed
- Hebrews 6:2. baptisms = washings.
- Mark 7:3, 4. baptized beds or tables.
- Acts 22:16. Where was Paul baptized? In the house of Ananias. Compare Revelation 1:5 and Ezekiel 36:25.
I am fully aware that there are other viewpoints about this subject that do not agree with mine. Feel free to discuss in the comment section below. There is much more to know about this subject than I have presented in this short outline!