"What are you waiting for? Get up, get baptized" (ACTS 22:16).
1. What are some good reasons to get baptized?
Some good reasons to be baptized are: to demonstrate our love for Jehovah, who has given us life and all good things; to become part of his family, belonging to him as our Father and friend, who will guide and care for us; and hope to live forever through dedication and baptism.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
A good reason to be baptized is that by doing so, we are showing Jehovah our gratitude for all the love He gives us. As 1 John 4:19 says, “we love because he first loved us.” And, at the same time, we are recognizing his sovereignty, the sacrifice of Jesus and committing to live in harmony with his will.
It is love for Jehovah, because He is our Creator and created all things for us to enjoy. Therefore, we must be baptized out of love and gratitude towards Him.
2. What are we going to analyze in this article?
This article will look at the obstacles some first-century Christians faced before they were baptized and what helped them overcome them. By reviewing their examples, we can reflect on how to apply their teachings, regardless of our age, and move toward baptism with determination and joy.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We will talk about some people who were baptized in the first century and see what obstacles they faced and what helped them overcome them. We are encouraged to look at these examples to see what we can learn.
Surely there are people who, when reading this article, are thinking about getting baptized, but there is something that is holding them back. This article will help you see that other people have also faced problems and how they have overcome them.
Many people before us have gone through hardships, difficult situations, and making important changes in their own behavior. Now they serve Jehovah happily, and so can we.
THE SAMARITANS WERE BAPTIZED
3. What obstacles did some Samaritans likely face in being baptized?
Some Samaritans faced obstacles such as the need to know God's Word better, as they only accepted the first five books of the Bible and possibly Joshua, which limited their understanding. They also had to accept that Jesus was the promised Messiah, according to Deuteronomy 18:18, 19. Additionally, some may have had to overcome deep prejudices against the Jews.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
They had to accept that Jesus was the Messiah, because for them, who were Samaritans, although they were waiting for the coming of the Son of God, they did not understand that he was Jewish.
They also lacked knowledge of the word of God. For example, by the time Jesus was speaking to the Samaritans, the Hebrew Scriptures had already been written. However, they only accepted as coming from Jehovah the first five books of the Bible, which they called the Samaritan Pentateuch, and possibly the book of Joshua. So they lacked much knowledge about Jehovah and what He had done until the Messiah came.
If we put ourselves in the shoes of the Samaritans, it must have been very difficult for them to overcome the prejudices they had ingrained. Many years of confrontation with the Jews, but many were humble, and as John 4:39 says, they became followers of Christ.
We see that in the conversation that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman, as reflected in John 4:25, she already had the knowledge that the Messiah had to come, when she said: 'I know that the Messiah, who is called Christ, is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.' This means that the Samaritans were sure that the Son of God had to come.
To see the deep prejudice that existed between both groups, an example is what Luke 9 shows. Jesus, very few days before dying, sent his disciples to a village to preach, but the Samaritans did not receive them. And with the time they had been with Jesus, James and John told him that, if he wanted, he could send fire from heaven and finish them off. This means that, some time later, not even his disciples had overcome that prejudice, much less these people?
4. According to Acts 8:5, 6, 14, what did some Samaritans do when Philip preached to them?
According to Acts 8:5, 6, 14, when Philip preached to them about the Christ, some Samaritans paid close attention to his words and accepted the Word of God. Even though Philip was Jewish, they recognized his message as coming from God, especially because he performed miracles, such as healing the sick and casting out demons, which led them to be baptized.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
They accepted the word of God, paid attention to what Philip was saying about Christ, and recognized that he was an envoy from Jehovah because they saw the miracles he had performed, such as healing the sick and casting out demons.
It is interesting, because, despite the prejudice they had, they did not reject Philip just because he was Jewish, perhaps because they remembered some verses from Deuteronomy that teach that God treats all people with impartiality.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
That, if we are willing to make changes in our lives, we can be clear that Jehovah will bless us.
Once they had overcome all the obstacles they could have and Philip spoke to them, preached to them, they accepted what he told them because they knew it came from God. So they no longer hesitated and were baptized.
Therefore, if the person has become convinced that the Word of God is the truth, and that Jehovah's Witnesses are those who fulfill the words of Jesus, demonstrating that they are Christians by the love they show, then, in this case, there would no longer be any reason to delay baptism.
An important lesson is not to get carried away by prejudice or lack of knowledge, because it is very easy to talk about others. But letting oneself be carried away by these prejudices without being sure whether something is true or false is what can prevent one from being baptized. That is why it is so important to delve deeper and learn what the Bible says.
We could also apply this to preaching. We may see someone from another religion or culture, or who doesn't look good, and prejudices make us hesitate to approach them. However, we must be like the Samaritans, who put aside prejudices and accepted what Philip told them.
This leads us to think that one of the most important things we have to do in life is ask ourselves questions: what do we want in life? And what do we want in our relationship with our Creator? When we ask those questions, we come to conclusions, rejecting some things and accepting others.
Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” How much love we Jehovah's Witnesses show to each other! Therefore, one must ask himself questions that lead him to make important decisions, such as, for example, getting baptized.
5. What lessons do you learn from the Samaritans?
The Samaritans teach us that we should not allow prejudice or lack of knowledge to hold us back. When they recognized that what Philip taught was the truth, they acted without delay and were baptized.
This encourages us to act decisively if we are already convinced that God's Word is the truth and that Jehovah's Witnesses display true Christian love. Thus, we should not delay baptism, trusting that Jehovah will bless us for taking that step.
6. What does Ruben's example teach you?
Ruben's example teaches us that doubts about faith, like those he had about the existence of God, can be overcome with personal effort and study. Ruben did not remain with his doubts, but researched publications, which strengthened his faith.
Furthermore, by visiting the world headquarters and seeing the unity among the servants of God, he felt closer to the world brotherhood, which motivated him to be baptized at the age of 17. This encourages us to seek accurate knowledge and to value unity and love in the congregation to overcome doubts and take the step of baptism without delay.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
If at any time we have doubts, what we should do is meditate and study them, seeking information in the Word of God, in order to have that knowledge that will help us strengthen ourselves.
In Ephesians 4:13, 14 we see the reason why children are easy to deceive, and it is because of their innocence. We, who study the Bible, should not be carried away by any teaching. That is why it is important that, like Rubén, we resolve any doubts we have about the Bible, seeking information in the organization's publications. Thus, this exact knowledge will make us mature spiritually.
Something that is also seen in Rubén's example is that, even though we were born into a family of witnesses, it does not mean that we are automatically convinced of everything and that the truth is already in us. But, if we have any doubt, we must dispel it and also strive to verify for ourselves that love and unity that exists in the congregation, so that the truth is in us.
In Ephesians 4, the goal is set for all Christians, whether we are baptized or not, because it says that we must reach the full stature of Christ, which we know is something very high. So, that exact knowledge begins to be acquired by a person who is interested in the truth and makes the effort, but it is something that we have to maintain throughout our entire Christian career.
This experience of Ruben also shows us that this good decision that he made, apart from the steps he had to take to acquire more knowledge, involves us all. He mentions that something that helped him progress was seeing and hearing the comments in the congregation and seeing the unity in the brothers. Therefore, that part also corresponds to us, so that we always be an example and have a positive effect on those who are yet to take this step.
How important it is to resolve doubts, because doubts are never a problem. The problem is not resolving those doubts and they can later become a problem.
When we have a question, we resolve it calmly. We can also ask for help to resolve that doubt. If we are giving a study, we can ask the person giving us the study to help us look for information, and we continue forward, completely comfortable.
SAUL OF TARSO WAS BAPTIZED
7. What did Saul have to correct?
Saul of Tarsus had to correct his mistaken belief that persecuting Christians was God's will, since he considered them apostates. As a prominent Jew, he also needed to accept Jesus as the Messiah and be willing to face the persecution that would come with being baptized as a Christian.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Saul of Tarsus, like many Jews, thought that Christians were apostates and that is why he cruelly persecuted them. Acts 26:9-11 shows that he put many Christians in prison and also gave his vote of approval for their execution. Saul thought that in this way he was worshiping God correctly. But when he put his faith in Jesus and became a Christian, he was the one who had to endure that persecution.
In Acts 26:11, he said that he was extremely angry with Christians, and that was not a feeling that only Saul had, but that all Jews felt that hatred towards Christians because they considered them apostates. So Paul had to understand that, if he became a Christian, he was going to suffer this hatred from his nation.
8. a) What helped Saul get baptized?
Saul was helped to be baptized by the life-changing experience of hearing Jesus from heaven and being blinded by a bright light, which led him to meditate for three days and become convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and that Christians followed the true religion.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Becoming convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and that Christians were the true religion was not easy. Later, he also had to deal with feelings of guilt for approving the murders of Christians, as mentioned in Acts 22:20, where he himself approved the murder of Stephen.
Acts 9:3-9 mentions that Jesus himself spoke to him and said something as radical as: “Why are you persecuting me?” Everything that happened at that moment was the beginning for him to realize that he was wrong.
Jehovah sees people's hearts. Then Jehovah saw that Saul was wrong in his ways, because that was what he had been taught. And when his time came, he opened his mind, and Saul was humble and accepted it like that. Then Ananias took away the blindness he had, and Paul had to give direction to his life, because he saw that he was really wrong. And now, what he was going to do was what Jehovah really wanted from him.
Realizing that he was persecuting Jesus, and then associating it with what he had done with Stephen, must have made him feel guilty. It was surely something that accompanied him the rest of his life. So, without a doubt, that led him to meditate and consider what he was doing with his life.
It is true that the words were direct from Jesus, but he was meditating on them, and that is why, in the end, with the help of Ananias, he decided to change.
8. b) According to Acts 22:12-16, how did Ananias help Saul?
Ananias helped Saul by speaking kindly to him, restoring his sight, and encouraging him not to delay his baptism. Thanks to their help and encouragement, Saul showed humility, accepted the truth, and was immediately baptized.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Ananias went to see Saul, spoke kindly to him, as mentioned in Acts 9:17, where he called him "brother" and spoke to him with great affection. She encouraged him to be baptized, and he was baptized immediately. He had to be humble to accept the change, because it was not easy to leave behind the life he had before. The change he had to make was not easy, but he was humble, accepted and made the necessary changes in his life.
The example not only of Paul, but also of Ananias, with the way he acted, is notable. He was kind to Paul and showed him that it was by the will of Jehovah that he was chosen for that ministry. He showed no bias. This is what we must do when, many times in the ministry, we find people who hate us, who speak badly to us, and we do not know if in time Jehovah will see their heart and perhaps they can become possible brothers.
In Acts 22:16 it is mentioned that Ananias said to Saul: "Remember that the God of our ancestors is the one who called you," and when Saul understood this, he asked him a question: "What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins." If you already know the truth, go ahead, don't waste any more time.
In the image we see Paul, who is about to be baptized, and conviction is evident on his face. He knew he was doing the right thing, and because of that, he was not afraid and was able to get baptized right away.
ILLUSTRATION
Saul entering the water to be baptized. A few people watch him smiling.
Ananias encouraged Saul to be baptized, and he accepted. Will you follow Saul's example? (See paragraph 8).
9. What lessons does Saul's example teach you?
Saul's example teaches us that we should not let pride or fear prevent us from being baptized. He demonstrated humility in accepting the truth about Jesus as the Messiah and was willing to make changes in his life, despite knowing he would face persecution. After his baptism, he relied on Jehovah's help to overcome trials.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
One of the lessons is that we must be humble, because humility will help us make many changes in our lives, and we will always have the support of Jehovah and Jesus Christ.
It teaches us that we must have confidence and tranquility when it comes to being baptized, since Saul, although he knew that they were going to persecute him, was sure that Jehovah would help him face any trial. Therefore, we should not be afraid of taking this step or of what may happen next, because we know that Jehovah will truly protect us.
In Acts 20:22 and 23 it is discussed how Paul, despite knowing that he was going to be persecuted, followed the guidance of the holy spirit. He made this decision and also trusted that Jehovah would help him after he became a Christian. He knew he would have trouble, but he trusted that the power he would have would come from Jehovah's holy spirit.
10. How does Anna's example help you?
Anna's example teaches us that, with Jehovah's help, it is possible to remain faithful even in the face of family opposition. Despite the ridicule and rejection, she stood firm because she loved Jehovah and was strengthened by both Him and the support of her parents. His example encourages us to trust that Jehovah will give us strength to resist any pressure if we decide to be baptized.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Anna's example mentions that a family member told her that she would be better off living an immoral life and smoking than being a Jehovah's Witness. Anna had to make many changes in her life and also face ridicule and opposition from her family. But Jehovah’s help is clearly evident in what Anna did, as she focused on all the times He had helped her and held on to that.
This example helps us see that younger people can also make important decisions, such as getting baptized, if they love Jehovah and are determined to serve him, even if others mock them. As Hebrews 13:6 says, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”
Everyone who wants to dedicate themselves to Jehovah will at some point have to face some type of persecution or opposition. However, the account of the experience says that Anna has a list of occasions that allows her to meditate and review when she has seen the hand of Jehovah. That is very good: that we keep it in mind and that we can do that, not only meditate, but also write down the times in which we have seen the hand of Jehovah in our lives.
CORNELIUS WAS BAPTIZED
11. What could have been an obstacle to Cornelius' baptism?
Cornelius may have allowed his social position as an officer in the Roman army and a prominent man in his community to prevent him from being baptized. His status could have made him proud or afraid of what people would say, but he didn't let that stop him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
An obstacle that could have been a problem for him was the position he occupied, since he was a centurion in the Roman army, that is, someone who had one hundred soldiers under his command. Truly, it was a great responsibility that this man had.
He was a prominent man, with authority over a hundred soldiers, as stated in Acts 10:2. In addition, he was devout and cared about helping those in need. He had very good qualities; That, surely, was what helped him.
12. What helped Cornelius get baptized?
Cornelius had a strong fear of God, prayed constantly, and was determined to worship Jehovah together with his family. When he heard the good news, he demonstrated faith in Christ and was immediately baptized, not letting his social position stop him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
What helped him was his personal relationship with Jehovah and prayer, as Acts 10:2 says. He feared God and prayed to Him constantly. Those two things, personal relationship and prayer, helped him have faith in Jesus, as soon as Paul began to speak and encouraged him to be baptized.
13. What does Cornelius' example teach you?
Cornelius teaches us not to allow social position or the changes we must make prevent us from serving Jehovah. He was humble, obedient and acted without delay when he learned the truth. Their example demonstrates that Jehovah blesses those who put their faith in Him and make the necessary changes to live according to His principles.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It teaches us to be brave and humble. He did not allow his good social position or economic stability to prevent him from becoming a Christian. And it surely involved many changes and sacrifices for both him and his family. But he knew that Jehovah was going to bless him. So, if we have to make big changes in our lives, we must have confidence that Jehovah will help us.
These examples teach us that there is no obstacle or anything that can stop us from making the decision to be baptized. Even though what we are going through is difficult, we know that Jehovah will bless us and help us achieve the goal we want: to be Jehovah's Witnesses.
14. How does Tsuyoshi's example help you?
Tsuyoshi's example teaches me that it is worth making changes at work to please Jehovah. Although his job involved participating in religious rituals that were not in harmony with the Bible, he had the courage to reject those practices and Jehovah blessed him, allowing him to keep his job without compromising his faith. This reminds us that if we put God first, He will take care of our needs.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Tsuyoshi mentions that the type of job he had was not compatible with being baptized. He made flower arrangements for funerals, but sometimes when the director couldn't attend, he had to go himself, and that included participating in Buddhist rites. So he had to learn what the Bible says about death and make a decision that could have even involved quitting his job. In the end, he didn't have to, because the director understood and allowed him to keep his job. Once he had exact knowledge, he was baptized.
This experience helps us see how Jehovah always fulfills his promise in Matthew 6:33, in the face of a challenge that is common to all: not to worry and trust that He will take care of us. And although in Tsuyoshi's case it was work, we can be convinced that, whether due to family opposition, a change in circumstances, or any other type of trial, Jehovah will always take care of us if we put him first.
THE CORINTHIANS WERE BAPTIZED
15. What obstacles might have prevented the Corinthians from being baptized?
The inhabitants of Corinth faced several significant obstacles to being baptized. They were known for their materialism and immoral lifestyle, full of practices contrary to Jehovah's standards. This hostile environment toward the truth could have discouraged many from accepting the biblical message. However, when Paul preached in Corinth, many overcame these obstacles by recognizing the truth and decided to be baptized.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The inhabitants of Corinth had a reputation for being materialistic people and leading an immoral life. In fact, many of those who later became Christians also practiced things that Jehovah condemned. However, when Paul preached to them, we see that once they heard the message, they began to believe and be baptized. All of this was not an obstacle for them to worship Jehovah.
Corinth was the main commercial city of Greece and welcomed many people from different cultures. Therefore, it is not surprising that, for many people, it was a symbol of debauchery and unbridled luxury. Furthermore, as if that were not enough, they worshiped Aphrodite in a temple. So, in that complicated environment, accepting the truth was quite a challenge because of the changes that had to be made.
Today we are also surrounded by immoral people who do not love Jehovah and who go completely against his rules. This example can help us stay firm in this very complicated territory. Like Paul, we are sure to find people who really love Jehovah and want to hear the message.
16. What helped the Corinthians get baptized? (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).
What helped the Corinthians get baptized was the power of God's word and his holy spirit, which acted to completely transform their lives. Although they lived in a materialistic and immoral environment, many accepted the good news and abandoned practices such as drunkenness, theft, and homosexuality.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We see how Jehovah's holy spirit helped them completely change their lives, and how the Corinthians who accepted the good news managed to abandon practices such as drunkenness, theft, and homosexuality.
God used his holy word and his powerful holy spirit to change people. As Hebrews 4:12 says, the word of God is alive and acts with power, and we must keep that in mind.
17. What does the example of the Corinthians teach you?
The example of the Corinthians teaches us that, even if we face ingrained habits or practices that go against biblical principles, we should not give up or think that we cannot change. They left vices and immoral behaviors behind to follow Christ and get baptized, demonstrating that, with the help of Jehovah and his holy spirit, it is possible to transform our lives.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As we see in Matthew 7:13 and 14, it is about choosing the right path, the one that leads us to eternal life. The Corinthians had to make many changes, but they did their best to start walking on that narrow path, and in the end, they succeeded. Like them, it is also important to fight, ask Jehovah and his holy spirit for help to be able to overcome any obstacle, and thus, not give up or let anything take us away from his side.
We are seeing that it was not a small change; They turned his life around almost completely. They had many practices that were not in accordance with what Jehovah asked. But they succeeded because they had Jehovah's holy spirit helping them and they were able to resist the temptation. Likewise, whatever we need to change today, or anyone who is close to baptism and needs to make adjustments, can be sure that Jehovah will help them.
18. How does Monika's example help you?
Monika's example teaches us that, with Jehovah's help, it is possible to leave behind inappropriate habits and practices to take the step towards baptism. Despite struggling with inappropriate entertainment and the use of profanity, Monika found strength through prayer and trusted that Jehovah was always ready to help and guide her.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It helps us understand the power that prayer has, like in this case, when Monika wanted to work on improving the way she spoke and the entertainment she had, which was not very appropriate. He prayed to Jehovah to help him and give him that strength, and Jehovah, without a doubt, answered him.
The lesson is, as it says at the end, that we do not stop asking Jehovah for his holy spirit to make the necessary changes, and He will give it to us generously, as the gospel of John 3:34 says, that Jehovah does not give sparingly or by measuring the amount of his holy spirit, but he gives it generously.
YOUR FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
19. What will help you overcome obstacles as big as mountains? (See also the image).
What will help you overcome obstacles, no matter how great, is faith in Jehovah and his power. Jesus taught that faith is able to move mountains. This reminds us that, with trust in Jehovah and sincere prayer, He will provide the strength and guidance necessary to overcome any barrier that stands in the way of baptism.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The key is to never doubt that Jehovah loves us, that he wants us to be in his people and to move on to the new world, which is what he promises us.
Surely, everyone who has to be baptized and has the task of dedicating themselves to Jehovah has had to face these types of problems, or may even see it as enormous mountains, having to take that step. But knowing that if we are on Jehovah's side, He will help us, and that even such great obstacles can be overcome, is a source of encouragement to all who want to take that step and know that they can count on Jehovah's help.
We have to have confidence that Jehovah is the one who wants us to take that step. Jehovah is the one who wants us to dedicate ourselves, to be baptized, to be part of his family. Jehovah is surely much happier when we take that step, and we do not have to let anything stop us from doing so.
ILLUSTRATION
At an assembly, a group of very happy brothers and sisters applaud as the newly baptized pass by them.
Never doubt that Jehovah loves you and wants you to be part of his family. (See paragraph 19).
20. What effect have the examples we have seen in this article had on you?
The examples of first-century Christians, such as the Samaritans, Saul, Cornelius, and the Corinthians, along with those of modern times, such as Reuben, Anna, Tsuyoshi, and Monika, encourage and motivate me to overcome any obstacle to being baptized. Their experiences show that, with faith, effort, and Jehovah's help, it is possible to overcome doubts, opposition, prejudices, or bad habits.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As we have seen, there are different examples from ancient and modern times. What does it teach us? That if we have any obstacles, as perhaps many people do, whether in personalities, defects, imperfections or certain tendencies, we must get to work. So we can meditate on the examples and see how we feel motivated to dedicate ourselves to Jehovah and get baptized.
The effects are very positive, and analyzing the different testimonies, they give us strength and confidence in the benefits that Jehovah and his Son Jesus offer us. They are always with us, transmitting their love to us, and with faith nothing will be impossible for us.
Sometimes it can happen to those of us who already serve Jehovah that we see someone who is taking a while to get baptized and we think: why is it taking so long? Well, after having analyzed this article, let us remember that there are many efforts that we may not see and that that person has to make in order to be baptized. So, we should help those people without judging.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE EXAMPLE OF THE FOLLOWING CHRISTIANS OF THE FIRST CENTURY?
The Samaritans
I learned that they responded humbly to the message of the good news and were quickly baptized. They did not let cultural or religious differences stop them. His example teaches me to act decisively when I know the truth.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We learn from the Samaritans how they had prejudices, in this case against the Jews, and also the lack of knowledge, despite only knowing the first five books of the Bible. We see that once they were convinced of what Philip was teaching them, they were immediately baptized.
Saul of Tarsus and Cornelius
Both men had prominent social positions, but they did not let that stop them from drawing closer to Jehovah. Saul, although he was a persecutor of Christians, completely changed his life, and Cornelius, despite being a Roman officer, allowed himself to be guided by the Spirit of God. They teach me that no one is too far away to change and that Jehovah values a sincere heart.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The important thing is that we are humble and also willing to make changes, and trust that Jehovah will help us face the trials we undergo.
Cornelius' good attitude is very striking, because he says that he already helped those in need and that he prayed to God constantly. So, as soon as Peter appeared, he saw it clearly, and he and his household were baptized immediately.
In the case of Paul and Cornelius, as soon as they understood what the truth was, they did not wait or waste another minute and got to work.
The Corinthians
Many of them lived a life far removed from God's standards, but they made great changes to please Him. They teach me that, with the help of the word of God and his holy spirit, any vice or incorrect practice can be overcome, no matter how difficult it may seem.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We learn that the materialistic life that characterized the city and also the immoral life was not an impediment for them to embrace the truth and change.
We also learn that there is no mountain so big or obstacle that Jehovah, with the help of his Holy Spirit, cannot help us overcome to make the necessary changes, no matter how big they may seem, and to be able to be baptized.
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