The New Testament places great emphasis upon baptism. The words, Baptist, baptism, baptize, baptized are used a total of 113 times in the New Testament.

THE STORY OF BAPTISM BEGINS WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST

The first mention of baptism in the entire Bible is found in Matthew 3:4-6.

"And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

"Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan.

"AND WERE BAPTIZED OF HIM IN JORDAN, CONFESSING THEIR SINS."

Without any explanation or previous mention the New Testament simply states that those who came to John "were baptized of him in Jordan." THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF BAPTISM. There is absolutely no mention of baptism in the Bible until John the Baptist.

John stated that he had been sent to baptize.

"And I knew him not: BUT HE THAT SENT ME TO BAPTIZE WITH WATER, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." -John 1:33

Thus we see that John the Baptist was sent forth by God to baptize. Jesus stated by inference in Mark 11:30 that the baptism of John was from heaven.

John the Baptist was the first voice from God for almost 400 years. He came to "prepare ... the way of the Lord." (Isa. 40:3.) He was the "voice of one crying in the wilderness." (Matt. 3:3.)

John the Baptist ushered in the Christian era.

"The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." -Luke 16:16

ALL TWELVE OF THE DISCIPLES WERE BAPTIZED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST

It is evident, from the Bible, that all twelve of the disciples were baptized by John the Baptist.

"Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

"BEGINNING FROM THE BAPTISM OF JOHN, unto that same day that he was taken from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."-Acts 1:21, 22

This is the record of the selection of one to take the place of Judas Iscariot, the one who had betrayed his Lord with a kiss and then committed suicide. The new disciple had to be one who had been with the disciples "all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, BEGINNING WITH THE BAPTISM OF JOHN." The fact that the successor to Judas must have been baptized by John certainly indicates that all the other disciples were baptized by John.

John 1:35-45 clearly states that some of the original twelve had first been disciples of John and had thus been baptized by John. It is clearly taught that all the disciples were baptized by John the Baptist.

JOHN THE BAPTIST BAPTIZED JESUS CHRIST

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him." -Matt. 3:13.

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan." -Mark 1:9

Jesus Christ walked sixty miles to be baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan.

JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES BAPTIZED THEIR FOLLOWERS

"After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and THERE HE TARRIED WITH THEM, AND BAPTIZED." -John 3:22.

"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.) -John 4:1, 2

From these two Scriptures we find that the baptizing of converts continued in the ministry of Jesus and the disciples. It would seem from these two verses that Jesus probably baptized early in His ministry but later delegated this authority to His disciples.

Before the close of the Gospels Christ had given the command that baptism was to continue.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST." -Matt. 28:19.

After the ascension of Christ the practice of baptism continues in the book of Acts.

THE CONVERTS ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WERE BAPTIZED

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." -Acts 2:41.

THE CONVERTS IN THE REVIVAL AT SAMARIA WERE BAPTIZED

"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." -Acts 8:12

THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS BAPTIZED

"And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, AND AROSE AND WAS BAPTIZED." -Acts 9:18.

THE GENTILE CONVERTS WERE BAPTIZED

"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." -Acts 10:47, 48.

PAUL'S CONVERTS WERE BAPTIZED

Lydia was baptized (Acts 16:14, 15.) The Philippian Jailor was baptized (Acts 16:33). Crispus was baptized (Acts 18:8.)

Throughout the entire Book of Acts we find that all those who embraced Christianity were baptized.

Throughout the Epistles we find that the early churches practiced baptism.

The practice of New Testament baptism has continued to this day.

Then, briefly, this is the history of baptism:

1. God sent John the Baptist to baptize.

2.John the Baptist baptized all his followers and the twelve disciples.

3.John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ.

4.Jesus Christ and His disciples baptized their followers.

5.Jesus Christ commanded that baptism was to continue.

6.After the ascension of Christ the practice of baptism continued with the Apostles and early churches.

7.The practice of baptism was continued down through the ages until today.