Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ: The Truth of the Early Centuries. Nikolay Alexandrovich

received it.

      The third case is the household of Cornelius, the first Gentile welcomed into the church. As Peter preached to him and his family, the Holy Spirit fell on them during his words – a sign God had accepted them (Acts 10:44—47). What did Peter do next? He “commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:48). Even for Gentiles, unfamiliar with Moses’ law, baptism was linked to Jesus’ name. Peter didn’t invent something new – he echoed the same command from Jerusalem, showing Christ unites all believers through His name.

      The fourth example takes us to Ephesus, where Paul met disciples of John the Baptist. He asked, “Into what then were you baptized?” (Acts 19:3). Learning they knew only John’s baptism of repentance, not Christ’s, Paul told them about Jesus. What followed? “They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5). Paul didn’t leave them with their prior baptism, as it wasn’t complete without Christ. He brought them to the same practice all apostles taught – baptism in the name of Jesus.

      The fifth instance is Paul’s own baptism. After meeting Christ on the road to Damascus, he was blinded and waited three days in prayer. Ananias, a disciple of the Lord, came and said, “Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 22:16). Paul, the great apostle, underwent this baptism himself. His experience wasn’t an exception – it was part of the same practice he later brought to others. The name of Jesus washed away his sins, called upon by Paul at Ananias’ instruction, showing how deeply the first Christians trusted its power.

      To these five examples, a sixth is added from the letter to the Corinthians. The church there was rife with divisions: some said they followed Paul, others Peter, others Apollos, and some Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12). Paul, hearing this, was indignant and asked, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). The answer is obvious: no, they weren’t baptized in Paul’s name. They were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul uses this as an argument: since they were baptized in Jesus’ name, not anyone else’s, they belong to Christ, not men. His words lose meaning if the Corinthians weren’t baptized in Jesus’ name. It’s as if he’s saying: Jesus died for you, in His name you were baptized – so why divide His church? This is further proof the apostolic practice was clear and uniform.

      From these six passages, I see one picture: the apostolic church always baptized in the name of Jesus. Jews in Jerusalem, Samaritans, Gentiles in Cornelius’ house, disciples in Ephesus, Paul himself, and the Corinthians – all, regardless of background, received baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. This isn’t a coincidence or one option among many. When I read Acts, I find no other names or formulas the apostles used for baptism. They preached Christ, and their baptism was tied to Him. Scripture shows this wasn’t just tradition but the foundation of their faith – a faith uniting all who came to God through Jesus.

      I can’t overlook that today many teachings offer other paths: different names, words, and rites. But looking at the apostles, I see they didn’t give us such freedom of choice. They baptized in the name of Jesus, a sign of belonging to Christ. These six examples from Scripture aren’t just stories – they’re testimonies calling us back to what the early church did. They show the apostles knew what they believed and passed that knowledge to us. I believe that by delving into their words, we can find the same clarity they had.