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     The Book of Acts is the unique first 30 year history of the early Church which Jesus said He would build (Matthew 16:18).  It is not a complete history.  For example, there is only a summary about Christians who taught others after they were scattered by persecution — no details of how many, or in which towns, or who was converted to Christ (Acts 8:1-4).  The rest of chapter eight primarily records the activity of a man named Philip.  However, the last verse tells us he preached in the cities from Azotus to Caesarea (maps of antiquity show 16 cities at that time).  No details!

     Although, at first read, the first half of the book presents Peter as the central character and the teaching of Paul in the second half, 54 verses record the activity of the Holy Spirit.  Acts is about the spread of the gospel of Jesus death, burial and resurrection being orchestrated by God Himself via men (eg Peter, Paul, John, Stephen, Philip, Silas & Barnabus).  The resultant conversions of this evangelism are recorded in 27 verses.

     Seven verses simply state the people were baptized; 11 state they believed; Three declare the “disciples multiplied”; One informs folks were “persuaded”; two tell us they “turned”; one states made many disciples; two verses reveal they believed and were baptized.

     One errs by taking one passage alone, to the exclusion of the others in the broader context, to show an incomplete way to become a Christian.  Many today assert a person is saved upon the mere belief Jesus is the Savior.  If this is so, then the book Acts is a lie.  The various terms indicating conversions in this book are synecdoche for all of what constitutes conversion — Faith (trust) in Jesus as the divine Savior, turning away from sin and submitting to a grave of water for the remission of sins.  In Acts, two verses expressly state the purpose of a person's response in baptism — forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

     That two verses connect faith (belief) with baptism (Acts 8:12; 18:8), tells us only people who have the capacity to believe, that is to make an informed and conscious decision, can truly submit to the Lord in baptism.  And thereby, receive forgiveness, becoming Christians, and being added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:42; 47).  The apostle Paul wrote there is one faith, one baptism, one church (Ephesians 4:4-6).  He was no ecumenical!

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