t
Jerusalem with no apparent abatement of zeal for circumcision. To the
last they evinced much more zeal for circumcision than they had ever
shown for water baptism; and they never in any way recognized water
baptism as the successor of circumcision.

Plainly it was not by the apostles but after the apostles' time that
circumcision was discarded and water baptism exalted.[176]

Altho' Paul ostensibly yielded to the elders and apostles at Jerusalem,
yet his subsequent epistles indicate that he remained firmly indifferent
or opposed to circumcision, water baptism, and other ordinances, all of
which he called carnal, weak and beggarly elements when applied to
Gentiles. Paul said he was made all things to all men that he might win
some.[177]

To the Jews, he became a Jew, to the Gentiles a Gentile.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 162: Acts 1.6; Luke 24.21]

[Footnote 163: Acts 11.1, 3; Gal. 2.11, 12]

[Footnote 164: Acts 11.1, 16; Acts 10.28]

[Footnote 165: Acts 11.1, 3]

[Footnote 166: Acts 15.5, 6]

[Footnote 167: Acts 15.1]

[Footnote 168: Acts 15.2]

[Footnote 169: Acts 15.2, 6]

[Footnote 170: Acts 15.6, 20 R.v.]

[Footnote 171: Acts 15.21]

[Footnote 172: Acts 15.21]

[Footnote 173: Acts 15.23, 29]

[Footnote 174: Acts 21.21, 24]

[Footnote 175: Acts 21.21, 25; Acts 21.21, 26]

[Footnote 176: Acts 21.21, 26]

[Footnote 177: Acts 21.21, 26; Col. 2.10, 23; Heb. 9.1, 10; Gal. 6.12,
16; 1 Cor. 1.14, 17; Gal. 4.4, 11; 1 Cor. 9.20, 22]

WATER BAPTISM AFTER CHRIST IN APOSTOLIC TIMES

Dean Stanley[178] says: "It has been the misfortune of churches that
they have imagined a primitive condition which never existed. The
reluctance to look the facts of history in the face has favored the
growth of a vast superstructure of fable."

Let us avoid this "misfortune of the churches," this "vast
superstructure of fable," and be willing to look the facts of Scripture
and history squarely in the face.

It appears by Scripture that our Saviour did not baptize with water and
that none of his apostles were so baptized _in his time_.[179]

After Christ, Ananias directed Paul to be baptized.[180]

We read that Ananias was devout according to the law of Moses, as were
also many of the apostles.[181]

They looked for Christ to restore again the kingdom of Israel.[182]

With such hopeful prospects for Judaism we cannot wonder that Ananias
and many apostles devoutly believed it to be in order and necessary tha