One of the most important questions we will ask during our lives is the question the Philippians jailer asked Paul and Silas after the earthquake in Philipi as recorded in Acts 16:30. He asked them, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" If you have not asked that question, it is my hope that you will do so today. If you have asked that question and heard the answer, I hope that you will responded in the affirmative to the answer.

But just what is the answer to that question? Simply stated, upon hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:14,17), we must believe it (Jn.3:16; Mk.16:16); We must repent (Lk.13:3,5; Ac. 2:38; Ac. 17:30-31); We must confess him (Rom. 10:9-10 & Ac. 8:37) and we must be baptized (Mk.16:16; Rom.6:3,4; 1 Pet.3:20-21; Gal. 3:27; etc.) When we are baptized our sins are washed away and we are THEN Christians, NOT UNTIL. Consider Ac. 2:41 &47. Then we are expected to faithfully serve God for the remainder of our lives upon this earth.

But many today do not believe that this is the way one is saved, many teach that one does not have to be baptized, while others emphasize baptism without belief (infant baptism, etc.). Today, we want to examine one way that the scriptures show that baptism is necessary for salvation: Namely, we will look at the examples of those who obeyed the Gospel as recorded in the book of Acts. We will use a chart to keep track of what the scriptures teach. If we want to become Christians the same way that they did it during the first century when the Bible was written, then we must do what they did. It is with this in mind that this study is being conducted. (For some here this lesson may be a mere reminder of things we already know, but for others perhaps it is the first time you have heard this, either way it is my prayer that it will be of some benefit to you).

1. Those On Pentecost - Ac. 2:14-41

1. It is Pentecost, 50 days after the feast of Passover at which Jesus was Crucified. He had died, was buried, and arose from the dead. About 10 days prior to this day, He had ascended back to heaven. The apostles were waiting, as instructed, in Jerusalem when they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Ac. 2:1-4). When all of Jerusalem were gathered together because of a great noise, they heard the apostles speaking each in their own language (there were at least 15 different nationalities there - 2:8-13). Peter then speaks to them about Christ. The result of this very moving sermon was
2. After they heard (X), they were cut to the heart (2:37). Realizing they needed to do something, they asked, "What shall we do?"

They were then told to Repent (X) and be Baptized (X) [a word which means to immerse]

3. The result was Remission of sins(2:38), Saved & added to the church (2:47)

(Ac. 3-7 records the history of the infancy of the church in Jerusalem and how it continued to grow from that day - first 3,000, then 5,000 men (4:4) and increasing. There was also persecutions. Finally, Christians were scattered and they took the gospel message with them. (8:4).

1. Philip, a devout man, went down to the city of Samaria and preached to them. There was also a sorcerer named Simon who was perceived to be a great man of God because of his deception, who observed the great miracles Philip performed.
2. After they heard (X)( 8:6), they believed (X) and were baptized (X) (8:12)

Simon did the same - (813)

3. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that they had received the gospel, they sent Peter & John (8:14)

 

3. The Eunuch - Ac. 8:35-39

1. Philip was then sent by an angel of the Lord to a desert road which went from Jerusalem to Gaza (8:26). He would find on that road a eunuch from Ethiopia, a servant of Candace, queen of Ethiopia. He was returning from worshiping God in Jerusalem and in his chariot he was reading from the book of Isaiah but not understanding what he read. Philip runs and overtakes the chariot and asks the Eunuch if he understands what he is reading. The answer is, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" (8:31). Philip then joins him
2. He begins with the very verse the Eunuch was reading in Isa. 53:7,8 and preached Jesus to him (X). As they continued their journey, the Eunuch says, "See, here is water…" (8:36) Philip answered, "If you believe (X) with all your heart…" The Eunuch confessed (X) -8:37. The chariot was stopped and they both went down into the water and he was baptized (X) 8:38-39.
3. The Eunuch then went on his way rejoicing (8:39)

 

4. Saul - Ac. 9:1-18, 22:16

1. Saul persecuted the church. He was at the forefront of this activity. While on the road to Damascus with letters to arrest Christians. While on the way he was struck blind and the Lord spoke to him saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Jesus then told him to go to Damascus and wait for further instructions (9:6). He is helped there. Ananias is then sent to him (9:10-17). When Ananias arrived he told Saul, "Brother Saul, …(9:17).
2. We then read that he was baptized (X) (9:18). In Ac. 22:16 , when Paul is recounting his conversion before a mob in Jerusalem that wanted to kill him he told them Ananias said to him, "…why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
3. The result was his sins were washed away.

1. Cornelius was a devout man, a Gentile who feared God. Ac. 10:1-2 describes his character. One day while praying to God he has a vision in which he is instructed to send for Simon Peter who, "will tell you what you must do." (10:6). He reacts immediately. Peter is then instructed by the Lord to go to Cornelius and teach him. When the servants of Cornelius arrive, he goes with them.
2. In his preaching Peter tells them, "whoever believes in Him will receive the remission on sins…" (10:43)(X). While preaching to Cornelius and his household (10:24), they were filled with the Holy Spirit (10:44-45). Then Peter said to those with him, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized…" (X) 10:47.
3. Obeying the command, they received the remission of sins (10:43)

 

6. Lydia - Ac. 16:13-15

1. Lydia was a woman from Thyatira who worshipped God. In the city of Philip, she was worshipping with other women when Paul came to her.
2. We read in v.14 that the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul (X). Then she and her household were baptized. (X) -16:15.

7. The Philippian Jailer - Ac. 16:25-34

1. While preaching and performing miracles in Philipi, Paul and Silas were arrested and put in prison and fastened to stocks. At midnight while they were singing and praying, there was an earthquake that shook the prison and opened all the doors. The jailer fearing that prisoners had escaped drew his sword to kill himself. Paul stopped him saying that all the prisoners were there (v.28). They jailer then brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
2. Paul responded - "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…" (16:31) (X) They THEN spoke the word unto them (v.32) (X). That very night, they were baptized (X) (16:33)
3. Note it was the same hour of the night (v.33). After this he rejoiced (v.34)

 

8. Crispus and The Corinthians - Ac. 18:8

1. While in Corinth, Paul was once again rejected by the Jews and begins to go to the Gentiles. He enters the house of Justus, who lived next to the synagogue (v.7). We then read of Crispus the ruler of the synagogue…
2. He believed (X) on the Lord with all his household. Of the Corinthians we read they heard (X), believed (X) and were baptized (X). Was Crispus baptized? Note 1 Cor. 1:14

9. Some In Ephesus - Ac. 19:1-5

1. Our final example of conversion is a group disciples of John the Baptist. When asked if they had received the Holy Spirit they did not know what he was talking about. They stated that they had been baptized with John’s baptism(v.3). So Paul began to preach Christ to them. (v.4)
2. They heard (X) and were baptized (X) in the name of the Lord. NOTE: Whey they realized they were baptized for the wrong reason, they responded by being baptized for the right reason. The right reason is in the name of the Lord.

Conclusion. Thus we have the examples of conversion in the book of Acts. This is EVERY example where we are specifically told what they did. There are instances where we are only told they believed. But they do not are not specific.

NOTE that in every example they heard the gospel and were baptized. The other categories are only mentioned in specific cases.

One might ask, "What about the blank spaces?" In many instances, the action is implied. I.E. - it is obvious Saul believed, as well as those on Pentecost. We know that Saul repented (see his epistles, etc.) The jailer washed Paul and Silas’s stripes showing repentance, etc. The point is they all probably did every point.

One might say of the blanks that because every step was not taken every time, then those steps are not necessary. But I ask, How many times does something have to be said in God’s word to be true? Think about it.