Why not both?
Some
believe that this statement teaches baptismal regeneration, that baptism is
required for salvation. Several factors must be considered.
(1) The
historical narrative of Paul’s conversion in chapter 9 shows that he was saved
and filled with the Holy Spirit before his baptism.
(2) The
same is true of Cornelius’s conversion in chapter 10. He was clearly saved and
baptized with the Spirit before he was “baptized” in water (10:47).
(3) More
importantly, one must listen to Paul’s teaching on this subject. Regeneration,
not water baptism, washes away our “sins” (Titus 3:5). In fact, Paul helps us
to see more properly the relation of baptism to regeneration by minimizing
baptism (1 Cor. 1:14-17).
(4) The
other apostles agree with these teachings. The redeeming blood of Christ washes
away our sins (1 Pet. 3:21; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5).
(5) The
means by which sins are washed away is indicated by the participle “calling
on.” The verse may then be rendered, “Be baptized, and wash away thy sins by
calling on the name of the Lord.”
Water
baptism is an outward action symbolizing what regeneration has already
accomplished in the Christian’s life.
Paul
again here, mentions the baptism of repentance, because the Jews understand
that type of baptism. They will not fuss at the name of the Lord, because all
through Moses' writings God is spoken of as Lord.
Verses
22:30 – 23:10: Paul’s second of 6 defenses. (Verses 1-21; 24:10-21; 25:1-12;
26:1-29; 28:17-29).
Acts
22:30
"On the morrow, because he would have
known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from
[his] bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear,
and brought Paul down, and set him before them."
“Chief
priests and all their council”: He convened an unofficial meeting of the
Sanhedrin (see notes on 4:15, 23).
The mob
has been disbanded, the beating of Paul stopped, and even the chains have been
removed. This chief captain sends for the rulers of the temple to come and tell
him exactly what charges they have against Paul. This chief captain wants to
quickly get this out of his hands. The scene is set. Paul is before them to be
questioned.
Let us
go back now and review what these charges are, before we get into chapter 23.
The only charges they have brought against him is that they say he has taught
both Jew and Gentile that they are not to keep the law of Moses anymore, and
that circumcision of the men is no longer to be done. Paul has been teaching
that Christianity does not require these outward shows of faith.
Perhaps,
one confusing thing to them, and to us, is if Paul teaches this, why is he
observing feasts, circumcising Peter, taking a Nazarite vow, and sacrificing in
the temple?
The only explanation is that he is doing these outward things to satisfy the Jews, so they will allow him to teach in the temple and in the synagogues.
The only explanation is that he is doing these outward things to satisfy the Jews, so they will allow him to teach in the temple and in the synagogues.
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