Preaching Jesus Means Preaching Baptism

By: Denny Smith

"And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" (Acts 8:35-36 NAS)

This is the account of Philip and his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch. It shows that when Jesus is preached baptism is preached as a part of preaching Jesus to an alien sinner. When the preaching is received (Acts 2:41) or believed (Acts 8:12) it results in people being baptized. The case of the Ethiopian eunuch was no exception.

Why would the eunuch request baptism if he had not been taught it by Philip? Furthermore, why would he request it unless he felt some urgency about it, unless he felt there was a need?

Philip taught the eunuch baptism because as Peter said on the day of Pentecost baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) without which one cannot be saved.

When Philip preached in the city of Samaria the Bible says he preached "the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 8:12 NAS) with the result being that men and women "were being baptized." Here in Acts 8:35-36 he has an audience of only one man and in a different location but we still see him preaching with the same result - baptism. This time it is just said that "he preached Jesus to him."

In the book of Acts up to this chapter we have had two Holy Spirit inspired men preaching - first Peter and now Philip. In each case baptism was a part of what was preached. They preached it because the Holy Spirit by which they spoke required it. Either that or they just got up and said whatever they wanted. Which do you believe?

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