"But when they believed Philip as he preached the good
news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were
baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12, NIV).
After one repents, one's next step is water baptism, a primary principle
of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 6:1,2). Those who wish to travel the road
to eternal life must understand and take part in two basic ceremonies-water
baptism and laying on of hands-to receive the Holy Spirit.
The words baptize and baptism are derived from the Greek verb baptizo,
meaning "to dip or immerse." Dip means "to immerse and
then quickly take out." Immerse means "to plunge under, so
as to cover completely." From these definitions, it is clear that
immersion is the biblical method of baptism. Baptism by immersion symbolizes
our death and burial. Rising out of the baptismal water symbolizes a
resurrection to a new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-5).
Notice how Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch. The two men had stopped
by a river, "and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the
water, and he baptized him." They then "came up out of the
water" (Acts 8:38,39). Why did they both go into the water? So
Philip could baptize the eunuch by immersing him completely under the
water. Then, rising from the water, the eunuch could begin a new life
in Christ.
