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Lesson 4:
Selected Scriptures Related to Baptism

This lesson provides, without further commentary of any kind, selected passages of Scripture that relate to the doctrine of Believers’ baptism. It is my prayer that this study has provided you with additional insight into the meaning and practice of this wonderful ordinance that HaMelech Yeshua HaMashiach has established for His Miqra.

Matthew 3 ¹³Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. ¹⁴But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? ¹⁵And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. ¹⁶And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of G-d descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: ¹⁷And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (KJV)

Matthew 28 ¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)

Mark 1 ⁹And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. ¹⁰And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: ¹¹And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (KJV)

Luke 3 ²¹Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, ²²And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (KJV)

John 3 ²²After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. ²³And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. ²⁴For John was not yet cast into prison. ²⁵Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. ²⁶And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. (KJV)

Acts 2 ³⁷Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸Then 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. ³⁹For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our G-d shall call. ⁴⁰And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. ⁴¹Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. ⁴²And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ⁴³And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ⁴⁵And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. ⁴⁶And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, ⁴⁷Praising G-d, and having favour with all the people. And the LORD added to the church daily such as should be saved. (KJV)

Acts 8 ¹²But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of G-d, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. ¹⁴Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of G-d, they sent unto them Peter and John: ¹⁵Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: ¹⁶(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

Acts 8 ³⁵Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. ³⁶And 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? ³⁷And 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 G-d. ³⁸And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. ³⁹And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (KJV)

Acts 10 ⁴⁵And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify G-d. Then answered Peter, ⁴⁷Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the LORD. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (KJV)

Acts 16 ³⁰And [the keeper of the prison] brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. ³²And they spake unto him the word of the LORD, and to all that were in his house. ³³And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. ³⁴And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in G-d with all his house. (KJV)

Acts 19 ¹And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, ²He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. ³And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. ⁴Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. ⁵When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. ⁷And all the men were about twelve. (KJV)

Romans 6 ³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ⁶Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto G-d. ¹¹Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto G-d through Jesus Christ our LORD. (KJV)

1 Corinthians 1 ¹⁰Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. ¹²Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. ¹³Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴I thank G-d that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; ¹⁵Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. ¹⁶And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (KJV)

1 Corinthians 12 ¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. . . . ¹⁸But now hath G-d set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where were the body? ²⁰But now are they many members, yet but one body. . . . ²⁷Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (KJV)

Ephesians 4 ¹I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ²With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ⁵One LORD, one faith, one baptism, ⁶One G-d and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (KJV)

Colossians 2 ⁸Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ⁹For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the G-dhead bodily. ¹⁰And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: ¹¹In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: ¹²Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of G-d, who hath raised him from the dead. ¹³And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; ¹⁵And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. ¹⁶Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ¹⁷Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. ¹⁸Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, ¹⁹And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of G-d. ²⁰Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, ²¹(Touch not; taste not; handle not; ²²Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Colossians 3 ¹If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of G-d. ²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in G-d. (KJV)

Hebrews 6 ¹Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward G-d, ²Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. ³And this will we do, if G-d permit. (KJV)

Hebrews 6 ¹Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward G-d, ²of instruction about washings (baptismos), and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (NASB)

Hebrews 6 ¹Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in G-d, ²instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (NIV)

1 Peter 3 ¹⁵But sanctify the LORD G-d in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: ¹⁶Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. ¹⁷For it is better, if the will of G-d be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. ¹⁸For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to G-d, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: ¹⁹By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; ²⁰Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of G-d waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. ²¹The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward G-d,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: ²²Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of G-d; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (KJV)

Luke 16 ²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip (bapto) the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (KJV)

John 13 ²⁶Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped (bapto) it. And when he had dipped (bapto) the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. (KJV)

Revelation 19 ¹³And he was clothed with a vesture dipped (bapto) in blood: and his name is called The Word of G-d. (KJV)

Mark 7 ¹Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. ²And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled (koinais, common), that is to say, with unwashen (nipto), hands, they found fault. ³For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash (nipto) their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. ⁴And when they come from the market, except they wash (rantizo, sprinkle), they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing (baptismos, dipping) of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. ⁵Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen (koinais, common) hands? ⁶He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ⁸For laying aside the commandment of G-d, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing (baptismos, dipping) of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. ⁹And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of G-d, that ye may keep your own tradition. (KJV)

Hebrews 9 ⁷But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: ⁸The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: ⁹Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; ¹⁰Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings (baptismos), and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. ¹¹But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (KJV)

Matthew 28 ¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing (baptizo) them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)

Mark 7 ⁴And when they come from the market, except they wash (baptizo), they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. (KJV)

Luke 11³⁷And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. ³⁸And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed (baptizo) before dinner. (KJV)

Num. 8 ⁵Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ⁶“Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them. ⁷And thus you shall do to them, for their cleansing: sprinkle purifying water on them, and let them use a razor over their whole body, and wash their clothes, and they shall be clean. [The word sprinkle is an editorial addition; it is not part of the original text.]

Exod. 29 ⁴ “Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting, and wash them with water.”

Exod. 40 ¹²“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. ¹³And you shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister as a priest to Me. ¹⁴And you shall bring his sons and put tunics on them; ¹⁵and you shall anoint them even as you have anointed their father, that they may minister as priests to Me; and their anointing shall qualify them for a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”

Lev. 8 ⁴So Moses did just as the LORD commanded him. When the congregation was assembled at the doorway of the tent of meeting, ⁵Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded to do.” ⁶Then Moses had Aaron and his sons come near, and washed them with water. ⁷And he put the tunic on him and girded him with the sash, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the artistic band of the ephod, with which he tied it to him. ⁸He then placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. ⁹He also placed the turban on his head, and on the turban, at its front, he placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. ¹⁰Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.

Lev. 16 ²And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. ³Aaron shall enter the holy place with this: with a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. ⁴He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarments shall be next to his body, and he shall be girded with the linen sash, and attired with the linen turban (these are holy garments). Then he shall bathe his body in water and put them on.”

This is the section of Scripture that describes the taking of the census from among the Levites for entry into the priestly service in the Tabernacle. This shows how it was necessary for Yeshua (Jesus) to be consecrated by mikvah (baptism) by Yochanan (John), the only living prophet, in order to enter into his priestly ministry on earth. The requirement for mikvah is given in the verses immediately above.

Num. 4 ¹Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, ²“Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ households, ³from thirty years and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting.”

… ²¹Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ²²“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families; ²³from thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter to perform the service to do the work in the tent of meeting.”

… ²⁹“As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ households; ³⁰from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tent of meeting.”

… ³⁴So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ households, ³⁵from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. ³⁶And their numbered men by their families were 2,750. ³⁷These are the numbered men of the Kohathite families, everyone who was serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses.

³⁸And the numbered men of the sons of Gershon by their families, and by their fathers’ households, ³⁹from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. ⁴⁰And their numbered men by their families, by their fathers’ households, were 2,630. ⁴¹These are the numbered men of the families of the sons of Gershon, everyone who was serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD. ⁴²And the numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by their fathers’ households, ⁴³from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. ⁴⁴And their numbered men by their families were 3,200. ⁴⁵These are the numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses. ⁴⁶All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel numbered, by their families and by their fathers’ households, ⁴⁷from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who could enter to do the work of service and the work of carrying in the tent of meeting. ⁴⁸And their numbered men were 8,580. ⁴⁹According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses, they were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

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