Water Baptism — Superseded at Acts 11
Water baptism was the baptism of John — the preparatory baptism of repentance pointing forward to the coming of the Spirit. Jesus distinguished it explicitly from the baptism of the Spirit. The transition point is Acts 10-11, where Peter witnesses the Spirit falling on Cornelius ‘s household without water and finally understands what Jesus meant.
> Acts 1:5 — For John truly baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Jesus makes a direct contrast. Not two stages of the same process. Two distinct things. The water baptism that John performed points forward to the Spirit baptism that Jesus is about to provide. The water is about to be superseded by the Spirit. Not combined with it. Superseded.
The Transition — Acts 10-11
> Acts 10:44-48 — While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And 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. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
The Spirit fell before Peter finished speaking. Before any water. Before any ritual. The Gentiles of Cornelius ‘s household received the Spirit without water baptism. Peter recognised it as the same thing that happened at Pentecost. His question — can anyone forbid water? — is asked after the fact, as a secondary confirmation, not as the mechanism through which the Spirit came.
> Acts 11:15-16 — And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost.
Peter recalled Acts 1:5 at the moment the Spirit fell on Cornelius without water. He finally understood what Jesus meant. The transition from water baptism to Spirit baptism is confirmed by Peter ‘s own recognition at this specific moment.
The Post-Acts 11 Audit
Acts 16:33 — the Philippian jailer baptised in a Roman prison in the middle of the night. No water mentioned. No water available. Acts 16:15 — Lydia. No water explicitly described. Acts 18:8 — Crispus and the Corinthians. No water mentioned. Acts 19:1-6 — Paul lays hands on the Ephesian disciples and the Holy Ghost comes. The laying on of hands is the baptism. No water in the text. 1 Corinthians 1:17 — Paul says Christ sent me not to baptise but to preach the gospel. If water baptism were essential to salvation Paul ‘s statement is incomprehensible. 1 Peter 3:21 — not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God. Peter explicitly rules out the physical washing. Ephesians 4:5 — one Lord, one faith, one baptism. One. The Spirit.