At the time the events in Acts 8 happened Paul had yet to be converted, the apostles were really still digesting the milk of the Word, as we all know that Spiritual understanding does not happen overnight. It took years after Christ's death and Resurrection for all the Truths they were given by Jesus during His ministry to take root and grow, were they not still circumsizing Gentiles at this time (Acts)?
Good observation Jim. When I was 17, the Lord brought this to my attention and I wrote an article on it. Now even before reconciliation was established as truth and acceptable, the revelation that Acts was not a book of doctrine but a chronical of the life of the disciples and apostles as they established (or carried out) their calling.
To give a great example is Jesus said in the beginning of Acts, "John baptized with water, in a short time you shall be baptized with Holy Spirit and Fire." We recognize that Jesus attributed the baptism of John to water and John attributed the baptism of Jesus to the Holy Spirit and Fire. So in Acts 1, Jesus sets the stage for 11 chapters of misery for Peter, who through trials and suffering and even three rebukes from God Himself in a vision, that John baptized with water, everyone else is baptized in Holy Spirit and Fire.
So here we have Acts 2:38, Peter gives an equation which is written in stone by his own words, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
1. Repent
2. Be Baptized (We know Peter water baptized by water at the time)
3. Recieve Forgiveness (as dependant on steps 1 and 2)
3. Receive the Holy Spirit (as dependant on steps 1, 2 and 3)
Then something stranged happened and all the way upto Acts 10, Peter was rebuked by God, was hit hard by persecution and when he finally recognized that forgiveness comes in the Name of Jesus Christ and when one believes they are forgiven. While preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon the people who believed in the message and noticing that none had been baptized in water, Peter thought he did something wrong when the reality is that Peter was finally doing something right.
Acts 10:43-47All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
1. Repent (Believe in the Name of Jesus Christ)
2. Recieve Forgiveness.
3. Recieve Holy Spirit.
4. Uh...Quick baptize them in water because that wasn't supposed happen that way...
Upon reflecting on the events that transpired, Peter then metaphorically hits himself on the side of the head reflecting on the rebuke he recieved from God and finally announces publicly and repents of his error and brought to rememberance the words of Christ Jesus who has remained the same, yesturday, today and forever, "JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 11:14-18 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'
"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."Who was Peter to oppose God, who had already made clean all mankind through the Name of His Son Jesus Christ. Water was not the medium, the Name of Jesus and what He did for all mankind was the mode. So they had no further objections and from that day water baptism was never preached again by those who had recieved the Holy Spirit.
Now let me prove a point here. This is going to be surprising to some but make total sense to others. Jesus had always said that Baptism of John was by water and John has always said the Baptism of Jesus was Holy Spirit and Fire. There is no contesting this, except when it came to disciples who did not even know that Jesus was the Christ, and the Pharisees who hoped to spur jealousy amongst John and his disciples and Jesus and his disciples. When Jesus heard of this, Jesus went up and left Judea and went to Galilee. Needing to go through Samaria, Jesus decided to prove a point to his at least one of his disciples (John) who at the time did not understand the things of the Spirit (because the Spirit had not been poured out at this time), what
water Jesus would baptize them in.
John 4:1-10When Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples than John (though
Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went again to Galilee. He had to travel through Samaria, so He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well. It was about six in the evening.
A woman of Samaria came to
draw water.
"Give Me a drink," Jesus said to her, for His disciples had gone into town to buy food.
"How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" she asked Him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.
Jesus answered, "If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would ask Him, and He would give you
living water."
John 4:13-24
Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again—ever!
In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life."
"Sir," the woman said to Him, "give me this water so I won't get thirsty and come here to draw water."
"Go call your husband," He told her, "and come back here."
"I don't have a husband," she answered.
"You have correctly said, 'I don't have a husband,' " Jesus said. "For you've had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."
"Sir," the woman replied, "I see that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, yet you [Jews] say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem."
Jesus told her, "Believe Me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
As you can see, Jesus was making a statement to you and I and those who witnessed this exchange that Jesus was not baptizing anyone in water, no the water He gives is living water. While the Jews (Pharisee) and Jesus's own disciples baptized people in water that cannot sustain life Jesus said there would be a time when the true worshipers of the Father, worship him in spirit and truth. John baptized with Water, Jesus baptized with Holy Spirit and Fire.
Luke 12:49-50 I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, constrained) until it is accomplished!
Mark 10:35-40 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."
Can there be no doubt to the baptism Jesus preached had nothing to do with water? Is there no doubt why Paul said he was not called to baptize any and is glad he did not baptize more than a few. Is there no doubt why everyone was in agreement finally reconciling in their minds the words of Christ when He said, "John baptizes with water but you shall be baptized with Holy Spirit and Fire?"
No doubt, let us follow the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.