Acts 8:12, 13
Following the establishment of the community of believers (the church) in Jerusalem (Acts 2), the beginning of church life in that congregation (Acts 3-6), some initial Jewish opposition and the stoning of Stephen (Acts 5-7), the next account of a conversion in Acts is found in Acts 8:9-13.
In this pericope we learn of Philip's preaching in Samaria and the conversion of some in that region, including Simon, the sorcerer.  Luke tells us that on hearing the message preached by Philip, "...they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip...."

Acts 8:36-39
In this fascinating narrative Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch on a desert road somewhere between Jerusalem and Gaza.  The eunuch is reading from Isaiah 53:7-8.  The eunuch must have been a Jewish proselyte since he had been to Jerusalem to worship.  Philip asks the eunuch whether he understood what he was reading.  The eunuch answered that without someone to explain he did not understand.  Philip explained the scripture to the eunuch and preached the message of Jesus to the eunuch.  When they came to a place where there was water, the eunuch asked "What is to prevent my being baptized?"  They stopped the chariot, "they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.  And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip...and he (the eunuch) went on his way rejoicing."

Acts 9:18; 22:16
We consider these two passages together since they both relate to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the Apostle.  Acts 9 is Luke's account of this striking event; Acts 22 is Paul's rehearsal of his conversion.

The story of Saul's experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) is remarkable.  We will not recount the full story of this significant event, but touch only on those parts that are relevant to Saul's conversion.
  
Saul was on his way to Damascus with papers authorizing him to persecute Christians.  On the way to Damascus Jesus spoke to Saul in a striking manner.  "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  Recognizing the supernatural experience as coming from God, Saul replies "Who are you Lord?"  Jesus responded "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."  After having his sight restored, Ananias obviously told Saul what to do!  Luke simply records that Saul was baptized!

When Saul, now Paul, the Apostle, was defending himself in Jerusalem, he told the story of his conversion with more detail than recorded by Luke in Acts 9.  Paul explains that a man whose name was, "Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³ came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth; ¹⁵ for you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’"

Acts 10:44-48, and Acts 11:18
As in Acts 9 and 22, we examine two texts that relate to the conversion of Cornelius.  Cornelius was the first Gentile convert to Christ.  Up to this point the Gospel had been preached to Jews in Judea, and Samaria.  Now the story of conversion moves on beyond the Jews to the Gentiles.  Again, as in Acts 2 and the Jews, it is Peter who preaches the first sermon to the Gentiles.  Although Peter, as Jew, was reluctant to preach to Gentiles, God through his Holy Spirit intervened and got Peter's attention.  As on the Day of Pentecost and with the Jews, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household.  This was, as in Acts 2, a striking event intended to let Peter and others know that God had granted repentance to the Gentiles.  

Notice Peter's words when he recounted this remarkable event.  Acts 11:15-18,  ^"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" ¹⁸ When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, 'Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.'"

Luke records in Acts 10:34-43 that Peter preached the story of Jesus to Cornelius and his people.  In Acts 10:47, 48, notice Luke's account of this and Peter's words, "⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ "Can any one forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days."

Acts 16:15
This brief account of the conversion of Lydia  is the first response to the Macedonian call of acts 16:6-10.  The Gospel is taken by Paul into European soil for the first time.  (The church in Rome was  most likely already established by this time, but this was Paul's first trip to Europe.  Paul did not establish the church in Rome.  The church in Rome was most likely established by Jewish Christians returning to Rome from Jerusalem after Pentecost in AD 30/33.) Paul finds Lydia, a business women from Thyatira.  Paul preached the Gospel to her, she believed, and was baptized together with her household.

Acts 16:30 - 33
While still in Philippi, Paul and Silas were arrested and thrown in Prison for preaching and an incident in which he exorcised a spirit from a young girl.  Paul and Silas had been praying and singing hymns to God.  That night there was an earthquake and the prison guard fearing that his prisoners had escaped was about to commit suicide.  Paul called out to hem and told him that they were all still there.   The prison guard must have heard Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns to God, for immediately he learned the prisoners were safe, he asked Paul what he must do to be saved.  Paul told him to believe in Jesus.  This was necessary because the jailor was a Gentile pagan, and not a believer.  Paul and Silas then taught the jailor and his household about Jesus.  The jailor "was baptized at once."  But what is the connection between believing and being taught about Jesus, and then being baptized immediately.  Simply that a pagan needed to know about Jesus, he needed to be taught so he could believe in Jesus.  When he believed he was baptized immediately.

SUMMARY OF BAPTISM IN ACTS
The Apostolic preaching in Acts focused on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  The preaching stressed that through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Messiah).  As the Messiah, Jesus was the king of God's kingdom.  The Apostolic preaching called both Jews and gentiles to believe in Jesus, to repent, and to be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.  Baptism became the right of passage into the church and a relationship with Jesus.  We learn from Acts that baptism was an integral part of the Apostolic preaching, and that it was required of all, both Jew and Gentile. 

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