Overview
The Bible addresses baptism across 47 verses, drawn from the New Testament. These passages cluster most in Acts, Matthew and 1 Corinthians. Closely related themes include Holy Spirit, Sadducees, Jesus, The Christ and Pharisees, the. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Philip, Paul and Abraham.
Key Bible verses about baptism
New Testament
Matthew
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: meet: or, answerable to amendment of life
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.1343 Then he suffered him.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mark
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. for: or, unto
And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: opened: or, cloven, or, rent
Luke
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. worthy of: or, meet for
And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. rejected: or, frustrated against: or, within themselves
John
And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Acts
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. miracles: Gr. signs and great miracles
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
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.
Romans
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? were: or, are were: or, are
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
1 Corinthians
Is Christ divided?3361 was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
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. words: or, speech
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
People in the Bible and baptism
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying baptism for yourself
- Begin with Matthew 3:5, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Acts, Matthew and 1 Corinthians each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Jesus, Philip and Paul and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Holy Spirit, Sadducees, Jesus, The Christ and Pharisees, the.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about baptism?
The Bible addresses baptism across 47 verses, drawn from the New Testament. These passages cluster most in Acts, Matthew and 1 Corinthians. Closely related themes include Holy Spirit, Sadducees, Jesus, The Christ and Pharisees, the. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Philip, Paul and Abraham.
How many Bible verses are about baptism?
The Bible references baptism in 47 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention baptism?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Matthew 3:5: “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,”
Which people in the Bible are associated with baptism?
Jesus, Philip, Paul, Abraham and Elijah.
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