In this article we will recap some things we have learned from the accounts of conversions we have studied in previous articles: those studies included the people at Pentecost (Acts 2); the Samaritans (Acts 8); the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8); Saul (Acts 9); Cornelius (10); and, the Philippian jailer (Acts 16). There were other conversions which could have been included: Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8); Lydia (Acts 16); and, the Corinthians (Acts 18). However, these last three would have added nothing than what was found in the previous six.
There was great similarity in those conversions: the Spirit-directed Word was first preached to the various ones because “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). This was Paul’s conclusion when after he quoted Joel 2:32 (“Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”). He asked several questions. First, “How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” Second, “How shall they believe in him in whom they have not heard?” And third, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). Through the preaching of the Spirit’s message, some came to believe — they were thus “born of the Spirit” and were told to be baptized or it is said of them that they were. Thus, those baptized were “born of the water” and having been born of the water and the spirit, they were new creatures; they had been born again.
It is true that in at least one of these cases of conversion no record was given of either a command to be baptized or that the person was baptized. In Acts 13:6-12, Sergius Paulas is said to have believed, but no record was given that he was baptized. But neither is it recorded that the man repented or was commanded to. If the fact that there is no record of the proconsul being baptized means that baptism is not essential to salvation (despite the fact that Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, and 1 Peter 3:21 all tell us otherwise), then we must likewise conclude that repentance is not essential to salvation either because there is no record the proconsul was told to do it. And, if neither baptism nor repentance is essential to salvation because neither is expressly mentioned in the text, then by the same reasoning we must conclude that faith is not essential to salvation.
When Ananias was sent to Saul to tell him what he “must do,” the preacher asked, “Why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins …” (Acts 22:16). The record does not say that Saul was told to believe, just as the record does not show that Sergius was told to repent or to be baptized. That which proves too much proves nothing.
It is interesting that in several instances of conversion there were some things of a miraculous nature which occurred, yet in no instance was the person saved by that miracle. In Acts 2 there is the falling of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles which was the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to them before His ascension back to His Father. It was said, “John indeed baptized with water but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence” (Acts 1:5). Jesus had promised them that He would send the Comforter who would guide them into all truth (John 14:26). That promise was fulfilled in Acts 2:1-4. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:22, “Tongues are for a sign … to them that disbelieve.”
The marvel of unlearned men suddenly speaking in languages they did not know astonished those who had come to see what had happened when the Spirit fell on them. They listened to the apostles when they explained that the fall of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28-32), then they preached the gospel of Jesus to them. This message pricked their hearts and in anguish they asked, “Brethren, what shall we do?” at which point Peter said, “Repent, ye be and baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38). An angel did direct Philip to the road on which the eunuch was riding and reading from the Scriptures. But it was Philip’s preaching to the eunuch which led him to believe in the Lord Jesus. The eunuch was saved, not because an angel spoke to Philip but because the words of Philip produced faith in his heart, who in turn wanted to be baptized (Acts 8:36-38).
Paul did see Jesus when the heavenly light shown upon him as he neared Damascus. And while seeing the resurrected Jesus qualified Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles (an apostle had to be a witness of the risen Christ in order to be an apostle), Paul’s personal salvation was not based upon seeing the heavenly light. His salvation was based on Ananias’ words to him produced faith in his heart that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.
It is true that Cornelius saw an angel who told him how to contact Peter to preach to him. But do not forget that Peter said, “Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you that by my mouth the Gentiles (Cornelius and his household) might hear the word of the gospel and believe” (Acts 15:7). Cornelius saw an angel, but it was Peter’s words which produced faith in his heart. An earthquake (doubtlessly divinely sent) did startle the jailer and brought him into contact with Paul and Silas, but it was their words to him and his household that they came to be believers in the Lord Jesus.
Two thousand years have passed since the time of the first gospel sermon, but God’s universal and eternal message has not changed. Just as people on Pentecost had to, after believing, “repent and be baptized …” to be saved (Acts 2:38), so it is today. Men must hear and believe the message of Jesus: crucified, buried, and risen. After believing that message (“born of the Spirit”); they must repent and be baptized (“born of the water”) to be saved. Therefore, they are “born of the water and the spirit.” They have been born again, and having been born again, they have been converted.
Jim McDonald