We continue in our quest to answer the question “What must I do to be saved?”. If you haven’t already read it, please begin with Part 1 of this series.
Conversion of Samaritans in Acts 8
Acts chapter 8 provides us with an example of a second group of people being converted: the Samaritans. Philip the deacon / evangelist (not the apostle) travels to Samaria, “proclaimed to them the Christ” (Acts 8:5), and performed many miracles. When the Samaritans “believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon [(who had previously practiced magic)] himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip” (Acts 8:12-13). Here we have explicitly stated that the Samaritans believed and were baptized.
Repentance Always Assumed
While the text does not say that Philip told the Samaritans to repent it is definitely assumed. We can see this in 8:14-25 where Simon reverts to his old ways and tries to buy from Peter the ability to give miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Peter’s response to Simon’s request illustrates the point: “May your silver perish with you…Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours” (Acts 8:20, 22). In converting to Christianity it is assumed that there is repentance which leads to reform of life (see Romans 6:1-4). So the Samaritans are required to believe, repent, and be baptized.
Conversion of the (Gentile) Philippian Jailer in Acts 16
The third and final example of conversion we’re going to look at in this study is that of the Philippian jailer who, as far as we can tell, was a Gentile. Paul and Silas have been put in prison, but an earthquake opens all of the prison doors and unfastens all of the prisoners’ bonds. The jailer, believing that the prisoners have escaped, intends to kill himself, but is stopped by Paul who assures him that everyone is accounted for.
“And the jailer called for lights and rushed in , and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God” (Acts 16:29-34).
In our final example of conversion we have a Gentile who is told to believe and be baptized. The objection could be raised that the text does not say that he was told he had to be baptized, but only to believe. The phrase “believe in the Lord Jesus” is the summary phrase used by Luke, but it is evident by the jailer’s response that Paul taught him baptism when he spoke the unrecorded “word of the Lord”. When the full word of the Lord is spoken, baptism is included.
When Did They Rejoice?
Notice also that the jailer does not rejoice until after he is baptized and that after his baptism Luke once again uses the phrase “believed in God” to summarize the entire conversion experience, including baptism. Read Acts 8:26-40 for a parallel: the Ethiopian eunuch is taught the good news about Jesus, responds by being baptized, and rejoices only after being baptized. So the jailer is told to believe and be baptized. Is repentance and reform of life necessary? Yes, even though it’s not explicitly stated, Luke has said it enough for us to know it is assumed (once again, see also Romans 6:1-4).
Conclusion
Here are but three examples which provide to us the answer to the question “What must I do to be saved?”. There are many other examples in Acts and many other passages we could turn to throughout the New Testament, but three examples is sufficient for our current study. What we consistently find (even if one text only implies what another text makes explicit) is that we are called to believe in Jesus as the risen Son of God, repent of our sins (which leads to a reformed life), and to be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins. The words of Ananias to Paul, at the time known as Saul, are a fitting conclusion to our study: “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).
I hope this has been a helpful study for you. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Studies in the Bible 