CONVERSION STORIES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
Acts 2:38-41….. the very first believers were Jews; the start of the church at Pentecost
Acts 8:5-12…….Philip preaches in Samaria. People respond in faith by being baptized
Acts 8:26-40…...Philip teaches the Ethiopian eunuch who responds by being baptized
Acts 9:18……….the conversion of Saul to Paul
Acts 10:47-48….the “Gentile Pentecost”-God shows Peter the Gospel message is not for Jews alone
Acts 16:13-15……...the conversion of Lydia and her household-- Notice the Scripture says that Lydia responded to Paul’s message. What must have been part of Paul’s message? She responded to his message by being baptized, so Paul’s message had to include the topic of baptism! --And being baptized is equated with belief.
Notice also, that Lydia’s response to the preaching of the kingdom of God was identical to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40 and the Samaritans in Acts 8:5,12. They all responded by being baptized. If baptism is when our sins are forgiven and we become saved, baptism absolutely has to be part of the message of the kingdom of God! And this is why baptism always has been part of the message of the good news!
Acts 16:16-34….Paul and Silas’ jailer (and his household) respond in faith and are immediately baptized
Acts 18:8 ………Crispus, the synagogue ruler-- Baptism comes after hearing the message and coming to faith in Christ. Believing and baptism are so closely associated together in the New Testament that the two happened almost as a singular event.
Those that have been “baptized” as infants should take note that baptism in the Holy Scriptures only occurs after faith in Christ, not the other way around
Acts 19:3-5……..those that had not heard yet of Jesus are baptized
Acts 22:16……...Paul’s story revisited --his sins are washed away, calling on the name of the Lord in baptism
Baptism in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament is always practiced by adults who have:
a.) heard the message of the gospel (of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ ),
b.) believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and paid for their sins on the cross,
c.) turned away from their sins (repented) and
d.) turned to Christ in faith and then
e.) were fully immersed in water into Christ and into new life.
There are these five basic events, combined, that mark conversions in the New Testament:
1. Hear
2. Believe (faith)
3. Repent of our sins
4. & 5. Confess verbally faith in Jesus and Be baptized (fully immersed) in water for the forgiveness of our sins.
6. Remain faithful
It’s that simple.
In the Book of Acts, these five “ingredients” all take place in a very short time period, almost as a singular event.
The Conversion Process
What is the meaning and purpose of baptism?
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