Where should we turn in the Bible to learn what we must do to become Christians? Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all describe the life and ministry of Jesus. As Jesus was with the disciples at Caesarea, He promised “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Since the church was not built until after His death, it is the book of Acts which describes what we must do to become Christians, or members of His church.

Acts begins with the ascension of Christ, and His promise to the apostles, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). From its beginnings at Jerusalem, the church of Christ spread to Judaea, to Samaria and to the uttermost part of the world. Luke shares example after example of people obeying the gospel of Christ as the church began and spread. From its explosive beginning at Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 2, the church grew rapidly.

THE JEWS AT PENTECOST. Just as Jesus had promised, the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached the gospel at Jerusalem. Peter’s sermon, recorded in Acts 2, climaxed with the words, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The people, moved by his message, asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:37-38). “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). With His promised church established, “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). Note: these were very religious people, but they still needed to repent and be baptized.

THE SAMARITANS. Because of persecution that came upon the church after Stephen was martyred, Christians were scattered, going everywhere preaching the word. Among those was the evangelist Philip, who preached the gospel to them, even as Simon the Sorcerer led them astray. “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). Note: the Samaritans were following the inadequate religion of the Samaritans, and needed to believe and be baptized.

THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH. The treasurer of the queen of Ethiopia had been to Jerusalem to worship, but was returning home without understanding who Jesus is. As he read the book of Isaiah, he needed Philip to explain the passage. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35). Notice that the Ethiopian understood the necessity of being baptized into Christ. “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” (Acts 8:36-38).

SAUL OF TARSUS. Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul, met Jesus on the road to Damascus, where the Lord told him, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). After spending three days in prayer and fasting, a Christian friend, and fellow Jew came to him and said, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Notice: Saul was still in his sins until he called on the name of the Lord by being baptized into Christ.

CORNELIUS THE CENTURION. Cornelius, a devout man who feared God, although a Gentile (Acts 10:1), called Peter to preach to his household. So that the Jews would understand that the Gentiles also were supposed to be Christians, God allowed the Gentiles of Cornelius’ household to speak in tongues as they had at Pentecost. Then Peter “commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48). Note again: these were religious people but still needed to be baptized into Christ.

LYDIA. Lydia, a seller of purple from Thyatira, a woman “which worshipped God,” heard Paul and Silas preach the gospel, and she was immediately baptized (Acts 16:14-15). Note: she was a religious woman who chose to obey God’s command to be baptized, and thus became the first Christian in Europe.

THE JAILER OF PHILIPPI. Paul and Silas found themselves in jail, where they “prayed, and sang praises unto God” at midnight. When God sent an earthquake, the jailer was ready to take his own life when Paul stopped him. The jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” At this point he knew little or nothing about Jesus, so “they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16: 25, 28-33). This man who was probably a pagan, understood the need to be baptized the same hour of the night straightway.

THE CORINTHIANS. When Paul came to Corinth, he reasoned in the synagogue, but many of the Jews “opposed themselves.” But “Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized” (Acts 18:4-8). 

If you will examine these conversion accounts, you will find one common denominator. The text does not always tell us directly that they believed, although we know they did. The text does not always tell us directly that they repented or confessed their faith in Chris, but we know that they did. What every account tells us, however, is that they obeyed the Lord by being baptized. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).