by Dave Brown
Ye often hear it said ...
“You can be
baptized anytime ...”.
but the Ethiopian asked (Acts 8:36):
“Behold, (here is)
water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?”
This man, who was obviously a devout Jew, recognized that
something was missing in his obedience to God. It is clear that he did not
wish to delay this act of obedience for one second longer than would be
necessary. Philip “preached unto him Jesus,” and this included the entire plan
of salvation. The Ethiopian man obviously heard the truth, and he believed
what he heard. While the subject of repentance is not mentioned in this case
of conversion, it is clear that the Ethiopian had an attitude of service to God
that would motivate him to turn from his sins. The fact that he was penitent
is evidenced by Philip’s response to him when he asked: “Here is water, what
doth hinder me to be baptized?” Philip’s response was: “If thou believest with
all they heart, thou mayest.” The Ethiopian man responded with the rock and
foundation of the church (Mt. 16:18): “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God.” Finally, it is clear that the baptism (immersion) that they practiced
here was water baptism.
This example is very explicit and simple. Can we go
wrong if we follow the example of obedience of these faithful men?