John’s baptism

Some, however, say today’s baptism under the Gospel is not the same as John’s. To try to prove this, they usually take us to the 19th chapter of Acts, verses 1-7. In this section we see Paul finding some disciples at Ephesus who had been baptized unto John’s baptism. Note: these did not say they had been baptized by John. If they were not baptized by John himself, who then baptized them? In the closing verses of the 18th chapter of Acts we read of Apollos, an eloquent man, mighty in the scriptures but knowing only the baptism of John, being in Ephesus. I do not think it wrong to conclude that Apollos immersed these twelve while he was there. Neither Apollos, nor anyone else, was authorized to continue John’s baptism. John, himself, said, “He [Jesus] must increase, and I must decrease.” He did not intend for his baptism to be carried on by any but those whom God, who authorized him, would authorize. These were the disciples of Christ who were commanded to keep on dipping in the same manner and for the same purpose they had been dipped by John. However, now there was an even greater purpose. “Him which should come after”, had already come. Baptizing in prospect of Messiah could not be done because He had come and died for His people. Now we can see how in baptism we are buried in the likeness of His death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection. It was not to down-grade John’s baptism Paul baptized these 12 disciples. They had been baptized in prospect of Messiah (Christ) after He had come, so the purpose for their baptism (by Apollos) was incorrect.

Excerpt from “John the Baptist and the Gospel,” by Robert N. Lackey, The Remnant, Volume 5, No. 1, January-February, 1991