Subjects of Baptism, Part 2 (in the Acts)

Acts 2:38-41 Baptism

Pastor Albert N. Martin continues his series on the subjects of baptism, focusing on the book of Acts to demonstrate that New Testament baptism is consistently disciple baptism, following conversion and faith. He systematically examines passages detailing mass baptisms, individual baptisms, and household baptisms, arguing that the biblical data does not support infant baptism but rather mandates the baptism of those who have repented and believed. Martin challenges common Paedobaptist interpretations of household baptisms, particularly Lydia's, by scrutinizing contextual details and the language used, concluding that every instance points to household conversions preceding baptism. The sermon concludes with a pastoral application, acknowledging both the joy of whole household conversions and the pain of divided households.

4 illustrations in this sermon

The Practice of the Apostles: Mass Baptisms in Acts 8 (Men and Women)

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Boys/Girls to Men/Women Analogy

Driving home: He deliberately employs words intended to exclude them.

Martin uses a diagram of 'boys to men' and 'girls to women' to illustrate the distinction in Greek words used in Acts 8:12-13, arguing that 'men and women' specifically excludes children, just as 'boys and girls' would be distinct.

Now, let me illustrate this on the board here before we turn to the parallel passage.

28:00 - 28:04 Read in full sermon

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Feeding of the Multitudes (Matthew 14)

In this part of the sermon: Martin analyzes Acts 8:12-13, where Philip preaches in Samaria and 'both men and women' are baptized after believing. He argues that the specific language 'men and women' is…

He references Matthew 14:21, where 'five thousand men, besides women, and children' ate, to show that when children are present and relevant, the Bible explicitly includes them, reinforcing his argument that their absence in Acts 8:12-13 is significant.

And here we find reference to the feeding of the multitudes in the desert.

30:14 - 30:19 Read in full sermon

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Disciples at Tyre (Acts 21)

A listener interjects with Acts 21:4, where Luke explicitly mentions 'wives and children' accompanying disciples, further supporting Martin's point that Luke, as a careful historian, would include children if they were present and relevant to the narrative, especially in a baptismal context.

It's careful to include children when they were in a group, a much smaller group of disciples at Tyre, Acts 21 and verse 4. And having found the disciples, you tarry there, seven days and be said to Paul through the Spirit that we should not set foot in Jerusalem. And when it came to pass, we'd accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey. And they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way.

33:38 - 34:09 Read in full sermon

Household Baptisms: Lydia's Household (Acts 16) Re-examined

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Lydia's Propriety with Missionaries

In this part of the sermon: Returning to Lydia's household (Acts 16:15), Martin argues against the likelihood of infants being present. He uses contextual clues—Lydia as a businesswoman, head of the…

Martin constructs a scenario of a young, widowed Lydia with infants inviting single missionary men to stay in her home, arguing that such an arrangement would lack propriety and that Paul would likely not have agreed, thus making it unlikely Lydia had infants.

She invited these single missionary men to come and stay in her home. Can you put yourself in that position? Can you see, can you conceive, here's a young woman who has been widowed, lost her husband, she has infants, now single men come into the community and she invites these single men to come into her home and to stay with her. Do you think Paul would have gone for an arrangement like that?

56:13 - 56:38 Read in full sermon

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