“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16

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The Greek reads, “And now, why delay? Having arisen, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (CG).

In the previous verse, Ananias said to Paul, “For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.” Now, with his calling set forth, Ananias continues with, “And now, why delay?”

There is a sense of urgency in his words, as if the clock of people’s lives is winding down. Paul has a charge to carry forth the word of the Lord, and without that message, people will die apart from Jesus. He needs to begin his ministry immediately. But before he does, Ananias next says, “Having arisen, be baptized.”

Baptism is the normative thing seen after any conversion. It is based on the word of the Lord to those who were with Jesus at the beginning –

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20

However, unlike the instructions given to many who heard the word, received the Spirit, and were then baptized (for example, Acts 10:46-48), Ananias continues, saying, “and wash away your sins.”

Baptism for repentance is what John the Baptist told Israel to do and which all of Israel would have been aware of. However, in Luke 7 it says –

“And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” Luke 7:29, 30

Paul was in this group. The people of Israel were then admonished to be baptized into Jesus in Acts 2. There is no record of the other apostles having been baptized. However, Paul was told to be baptized “and wash away your sins.” In Acts 2, Peter instructed the people, saying –

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38, 39

This implies that their sin (as with Paul) was not connected with the law, which could have been forgiven on the Day of Atonement. Instead, they were connected with “the Just” mentioned in verse 14, meaning the Messiah. Paul, like Israel, had rejected the Messiah. Israel had to repent (change their minds) concerning this. Their minds needed to be converted from rejection to acceptance.

At this point, however, Paul does not need to repent. He has already changed his mind about who Jesus is. And yet, he was still told to be baptized to wash away his sins. Those in Acts 10 did not need to do this. They were baptized as an outward demonstration of the faith they possessed, and which had saved them. In both instances, baptism is required, but the underlying reason is different.

As for the word translated as “wash away,” it is apolouó. It is a compound word, coming from words meaning “away” and “wash.” It is only used here and in 1 Corinthians 6:11. However, the verb louo is used in an important passage during Jesus’ ministry, John 13:10. In that verse, a picture of both justification and sanctification are given by using two different words for “wash,” louo and nipto. Paul needs to be “washed,” meaning sanctification and justification, in order to be cleansed from his sins.

Those in Acts 10 received this immediately. Paul, having previously rejected Jesus, needed to go through the process of baptism for this purpose, just as those in Acts 2 did. In his baptism, he was to enter into a new life in Messiah while “calling on the name of the Lord.”

The Greek word translated as “Lord” is used, kurios. Some manuscripts simply say, calling on His name. Either way, it is implying that the Just is the Lord because only God can forgive sins. Once again, the text clearly indicates that Jesus the Man is the embodiment of Yehovah of the Old Testament. Thus, He is the God/Man.

As for the giving of the Spirit to Paul, nothing is said of when he received it. However, it can be inferred that the Spirit only came upon him after the act of Baptism. Notice the necessary conditions for those Jews who had first rejected Jesus –

For Israel on Pentecost: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38, 39

For Paul as noted in Acts 9: “And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.” Acts 9:17, 18

For Paul while speaking to Israel in Acts 22: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16

Without telling us when Paul received the Spirit, it can be inferred that it occurred only after he was baptized. The sin of rejection by these early Jews was to be overcome through water baptism. The reason for this is because it is a sign to national Israel of their need to be identified with the Messiah in order to be saved as a nation. That is actually prefigured in typology in Joshua 3 and 4. Take time to watch the Superior Word sermons on those chapters to more fully understand this.

Life application: Today, a person who accepts Jesus is saved by faith and he is immediately sealed with the Spirit. At that moment, he is sanctified and justified before the Lord. Water baptism follows this as an outward sign of the inner change that has taken place.

It is a command of the Lord that baptism takes place, just as taking the Lord’s Supper is a command. Such rites are obviously important to the Lord and He expects us to follow through with them. Salvation is not tied up in either, but it is sure that rewards are. Be sure to receive baptism if you have never done so, and then be sure to take the Lord’s Supper when you meet.

Also, take time to read the Bible each day. Consider it in its intended context and think about why things occur as they do in Scripture. There is always a logical reason for why things are detailed as they are. So, contemplate the word as you go about your day.

Heavenly Father, thank You for salvation by grace through faith. Thank You that, when we believe, we are saved and sealed for the day of redemption. We no longer have to fear death or condemnation. Rather, we can look to the future with hope and joy because of the work of Jesus our Lord! Thank You for Jesus. Amen.