rkbo:
Please read "context" the next time you read your bible !
John 4:1 - "the Pharisees had heard" -- heard , not seen !
John 4: 2 which is the "next verse" - ( Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples" )
Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples, thus he "baptized" them - cleansed them by the washing of their feet. < John 13:5
Jesus also told them to wash one another's feet > John 13:14, so that means that they "baptized" ( washed ) each other.
This was an act of humilty, and not another baptsim !
Jesus said in verse 15 , "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you"
The humility to wash another's feet shows love. To love one another is to show humility towards one another.
Acts 10:47 is a metaphor - "can any man forbid water" = meaning - can a man stop water, as I explained before !
As you agreed with rkbo, they were already baptized before verse 47. That means there is 'no' need of any other outward sign , than they receiving the gift of holy spirit, and them "speaking in tongues", and "magnify" God. There is no other "sign" needed !
Verse 47 - Peter's words - "They have received" ---- "They have received" - "the Holy Spirit", "as well as we" <<<<<--------------"They have received" !!
Verse 48 - And Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord - Jesus Christ. Not with John's baptism , which was with water !
Acts 8:38 and the "CONTEXT" surrounding this verse "needs" to be read ! !
Did Philip preach water baptism ? -- Answer - NO !
Who "asked" to be water baptized ? -- Answer - the unuch
Did Philip preach Jesus unto the unuch ? -- Answer - Yes - Acts 8:35
So ask yourself, why did Cornelius in Acts 10 receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and this unuch did not ? -- Answer - Faith.
His "faith" was still in John's baptism .
Philip preached "faith" in Jesus Christ - verse 37, and the unuch said he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Philip told him that if he believed, then he "mayest". Ask youself, "mayest" what ? --- Answer - "Mayest receive into manifestation speaking in tongues and magnifying God as the house of Cornelius did in Acts 10.
Who commanded the chariot to stop ? -- Answer - the unuch did !
Ask yourself :
What Philip did, was it right or wrong to water baptize the unuch ?
Was it the will of God ?
After the water baptizing, did the Spirit of God come upon the unuch ?
What did the Spirit of the Lord do with Philip ?
Was the unuch happy (rejoicing) that he was water baptized, and received not the gift of holy spirit upon him ?
Do you speak in tongues and magnify God , because you have received the gift of holy spirit , and are baptized in the name of the Lord ? ?
Love IN Christ - HErvey