It does not say: “Jesus spoke in the ears of Peter”, but he remembered and Jesus said the Spirit would give them a wonderful memory.
The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord. It would seem that he was reminded of what Jesus said in Acts 1 about Johns past water baptism right when the Gentiles were coming in. This is telling.it would seem that Peter was in some respect still following Johns water baptism. But it also looks like he was not needed to do this. And the Gentiles in Acts 10 were saved and filled with the Spirit and saved by grace before any water baptism.
We agree when Paul says in 1 Cor. 1 “he is glade in he did not baptize more”, he was referring specifically to water baptism.
But the point to notice is that he thanked God he baptized so few. If water baptism was as important as some make it he should have baptized everyone who got saved in Corinth.But he told them the gospel he preach abnd they believed was not connected to water baptism in 1 Cor. 15:1-4.when the baptism issue became an issue Paul says “besides” .. all this baptism talk. He pushes it aside and he even says that the cross of Christ could be made if none effect by men seeking to add a old testament ritual of water baptism to the gospel, and have all sorts of words to explain how a ritual is needed .But Paul says, not with the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. The cross is against all works of the flesh and manuscripts to justify themselves.
Paul said similar in Galatians 6 about circumcision how sone constrained them to do it lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
Yet Paul did baptize some people in Corinth (household of Stephanas, Crispus and Gaius)
Crispys was a Jew as we read
Acts 18: 8. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.”
The other two may have been Gentiles there is some discussion about Stephany’s possibly being a Jew in the region.
But. These were early in the church when the Jewish issues were still strong and the Gentiles coming into the church were connected to the Jews. It seems Paul had a revelation about water baptism not being needed for him to do later. Paul also circumcised Timothy in Acts 16 even though he was not sent to circumcise. Don’t seems he condescended to the times they were in.
Paul also went into the temple with the Christian Jews in Acts 21 and there were still keeping all the law and sacrificing animals etc and keeping the customs
and these are not Hebrew names and there seemed to be very few Jewish Christians in Corinth and Paul seems to be addressing only Gentiles in Corinth. Paul also gave the specific reason: “so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.” And, Paul did not give the reason: “Because water baptism is not needed or was it wrong”. Paul talks a whole lot about Jewish rituals especially: Jewish Dietery requirements, circumcision and Sabbath days, but never mentions the Gentile were not to be water Baptized.
Paul did say that the Gentiles we’re not to be circumcised in Galatians 2 referring to Titus who was not a Jew but he did go along for a time with the Jewish believers when he circumcised Timothy in Acts 16 so as not to offend them.
I see water baptism similar Paul saw the Jewish custom and following diverse washings and carnal ordinances for a time . But when it became an issue (as circumcision did) he stood against it.
Your not addressing the issue, the bible does not say: “Peter thought he was baptizing them into Jesus Christ, with water baptism, but was not”.
Peter in that sane chapter seemed to argue with God a
Again! I am not saying the water saved them, God does that.
Maybe you’re not saying that but many many do. Many may even say “oh, no, water baptism is not needed for salvation, but you must do it or rise we would doubt your salvation.
We know for certain Gentiles were water baptized.
And the Jewish believers were trying to make the Gentiles come under the law and live like the Jews. But Paul had to withstand this.
Galatians 2: 14. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”
I agree at least some Jewish Christians were trying to get the gentile Christians to become Jews to be Christians and this might have gone on even a little after 70 AD, but Gentile and Jewish Christians were water Baptized and that is not specifically shown to be wrong.
Some among them also tried to get the Gentiles to be circumcised and keep the whole law to be saved and this was disputed much later in Acts 15, many many years after Pentecost.
Acts 15: 5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”
So, what I see is that Paul was aware of this tension and do as not to offend the Jews he went along with some of the rituals and other things for a time. This would remove a barrier of him working among them in ministry. But when baptism was becoming more than it was in the old. Covenant and among the diverse washings and carnal ordinances that were to pass sway in the tone of reformation? He took issues and he did similarly with circumcision as is evident in scripture.
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