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NASB | Acts 16:33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 16:33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their bloody wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. |
Subject: Acts 16:33 and infant baptism. |
Bible Note: Searcher, Thanks for the input. I'm seeing merit in both sides of this issue: Pro infant baptism: The fact that Lydia's and the Philippian jailer's whole households were baptized introduces the possibility of infants being baptized. The New Testament was written at a time when all Christians were adult converts from Judism, or paganism. It makes sense for these to be baptized. The NT makes no reference to the procedure for baptizing those who were born to Christian parents. Should they not be baptized till they are old enough to chose to do so on their own? Baptized immediately? Should those be rebaptized once they reached a certain age? The NT doesn't say. Evidence against infant baptism: There are no clear and direct accounts were Christ or the Apostles engaged in the water baptism of infants, nor do they command us to do so. There are verses that talk about permitting Children to come to Christ (Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.), BUT there is no mention of baptism in this verse. When you see believing and baptism in the same sentence, believe comes first. (Mark 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.) Based on that word order it seems that belief should proceed baptism, and it seems obvious that infants can't believe. At this point it seems that the evidence is inconclusive. I guess that the best strategy in dealing with questions like this is to not take a dogmatic position either for or against. Anyone else have any thoughts or points of view? Huron |