Why did they just baptize individuals in the name of Jesus in the Bible book Acts of Apostles, since Jesus declared that all of his disciples must be baptized in the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Some relevant Bible texts
Let’s first check the Bible to see whose name Jesus gave the disciples authority to baptize people in, as well as whose name the disciples really used.
- Jesus commanded his followers to follow all of his commands, and he promised to be with them constantly until the end of time. He added, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19–20.
- During the Pentecost event, Peter addressed the group and said, “Repent and allow each of you to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; you will then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).
- “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ,” says Peter in Cornelius’ house. (Acts 10:48).
- “After hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus,” writes Paul at Ephesus. (Acts 19:5).
What does ‘in the name of’ mean?
Did the disciples not obey what Jesus told them to do? Let’s find out. First we need to find out what ‘in the name of‘ actually means. It means ‘by the authority of’, ‘by the power of’, ‘on behalf of’. It is an expression showing that one individual is acting as the representative of another, acting in accordance with his will and instructions and by his authority. When Jesus told the disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, He was telling them to do so by the authority of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The will or authority of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is exactly the same, for they are completely in harmony and united in will. What one authorizes is what the others authorize. What one says to do is what the others say to do. To act by the authority (in the name of) one, then, is to act by the authority (in the name of) all three, for it is the same authority.
Being baptized by Jesus’ authority
Therefore, the phrase “in Jesus’ name” does not substitute for what needs to be said explicitly when baptism someone. “In Jesus’ name” merely refers to the authority or power of Jesus. Simply said, to be baptized in Jesus’ name is to submit to His authority or power. He has the same power as the Father and the Holy Spirit because he is the embodiment of God’s authority. Hence, to baptize in the name of Jesus is to baptize in line with His authority or power, which is synonymous with baptizing in the name, authority, or power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The realization that our baptism connects us to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, our Savior, is more significant than the name or names under which we are baptized. beside Him, we are buried, and then we rise to walk in fresh life beside Him. Now, the Holy Spirit is within us, the Son saves us, and we are a part of the Father. I hope that this shows up in our daily lives.
