New Testament Water Baptisms

By: Matthew D. Dyer

Some argue that water baptism no longer applies to Christians under the New Covenant, but the New Testament consistently shows believers being baptized in water after hearing and accepting the Gospel, which disproves that claim. Below is a chart listing every recorded instance of water baptism.

Passage	Person/ Group	Preached Before Baptism?	Faith/ Repentance Recorded?	Notes
Matt 3:5–6; Mark 1:5; Luke 3:3–7	Crowds at John’s baptism	Yes — John preached repentance	Yes — repentance/ confession	“Baptism of repentance.”
Matt 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22	Jesus	N/A	N/A	Unique case; not for repentance.
John 3:22; 4:1–2	People baptized by Jesus’ disciples	Implicit, but not detailed	Not stated	Jesus Himself did not baptize.
Acts 2:37–41	3,000 at Pentecost	Yes — Peter’s sermon	Yes — “received his word”	Baptized after believing the message.
Acts 8:5–13	Samaritans	Yes — Philip preached Christ	Yes — “they believed Philip”
Acts 8:26–39	Ethiopian eunuch	Yes — Philip explained Scripture	Yes — explicit confession of faith	Asked to be baptized immediately.
Acts 9:17–18; 22:16	Saul/Paul	Yes — message from Ananias, encounter with Christ	Yes — implied by obedience	Baptized after regaining sight.
Acts 10:44–48; 11:15–18	Cornelius & household	Yes — Peter preached	Yes — received Spirit while hearing	Baptism commanded after Spirit fell.
Acts 16:13–15	Lydia & household	Yes — Paul spoke to them	Yes — “Lord opened her heart”	First convert in Europe.
Acts 16:25–34	Philippian jailer & household	Yes — Paul preached Gospel	Yes — he believed	Baptized “the same hour of the night.”
Acts 18:8	Crispus & many Corinthians	Yes — Paul preached	Yes — Crispus “believed,” many others too	Paul baptized some himself.
Acts 19:1–7	12 disciples in Ephesus	Yes — Paul taught them Christ	Yes — received Holy Spirit	Re-baptized because they only had John’s baptism.
Acts 2:41; 4:4	Thousands in early Jerusalem church	Yes — apostolic preaching	Yes — those who “received the word”	Large-scale baptisms.
1 Cor 1:14–17; 16:15	Household of Stephanas	Yes — Paul’s ministry	Implied yes	Early converts “devoted to ministry.”
John 1:25–34; Matt 3:1–6	Followers of John	Yes — repentance preaching	Yes — confession/repentance	Baptism preparing for Messiah.
Mark 16:16	“Whoever believes and is baptized”	Yes — preaching in context	Yes — belief required	A statement, not a narrative baptism.

For more information on baptism please read my short book What is Biblical Baptism? A Biblical Examination of Water Baptism or clicking the videos below.