I know. I was shocked about this even more than you when I learned of this in Scripture.
Anyways, this revelation that Spirit baptism was the new form of baptism under the New Covenant was not known to Peter right away.
So this is why you will see Peter water baptize in both Acts 2, and Acts 10. Remember, we see Peter and the apostles do things many times with a lack of understanding even before and after the cross. For example: Peter was rebuked by Jesus for trying to prevent him from going to the cross.
Even after Christ had risen, the apostles had no clue that He was risen and they doubted the woman’s testimony of seeing the Lord.
Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla had taught the way of God more perfectly on this matter (involving John’s water baptism). So many of the Jewish apostles (except Paul in his ministry after his return from Arabia) were not aware of what Paul knew yet.
- Acts of the Apostles 18:24-26 says, And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” In short, Aquila and Priscilla (who were taught by Paul) expounded the Word of God more perfectly unto Apollos because he only knew of John’s baptism of water. Apollos needed to learn of Spirit baptism (Which is the true New Covenant way of being baptized).
- Acts of the Apostles 19:1-7 says, “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.” In other words, the believers at Ephesus only knew of John’s baptism of water, and they were not aware of the Holy Ghost. So Paul baptized them into the Holy Ghost by laying his hands on them. So they received the baptism of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 1:17 says, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” If water baptism is what places us into Christ, then why is Paul teaching against it here? This must mean that the true baptism is Spirit baptism and that the baptism that Paul was not sent by Christ to put forth was water baptism. For the apostles were commissioned to baptize in Matthew 28:19, and yet, Paul was an apostle.
Hebrews 9:10 says, “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers
washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” The word “
washings” is the Greek word “
baptismos” (βαπτισμός) (Check out
here for the Strong’s definition). In other words, Hebrews 9:10 is saying that diverse baptisms (washings) were imposed on believers until the time of reformation. Meaning, water baptism will give way or pass away until the time of reformation (Which means that Spirit baptism is now the one and only true baptism for today).
