Baptism: A Divider of Churches and a Cause of Martyrdom—Is It a Basis of Division or a Solution for Unity

By Jesse Clarence Ford

This book was perhaps more than forty years in writing, and it has been brought forward with deep conviction. I consider it a must. It was prepared to give mankind a living hope, and it is in obedience to His command. It is my deep conviction that pastors, evangelists, and teachers shall give an account to God for what failures have been present in teaching a faith built on false premise. It was prepared to provide peace of mind and heart with authentic and verified facts, which include admissions from Catholic authorities, including The Catholic Encyclopedia, and Protestant reformers in undeniable acknowledgements. All is a factual record of history. There is no Biblical basis for sprinkling, as I have shown and explained. It appears to me to be a stunning neglect of facts that has built a totally false premise which has deceived millions and corrupted Christianity, which every person is responsible to embrace and build their faith upon! Small wonder that well over half of pastors have serious doubts about the Bible. The Word of an infinite, eternal, almighty, righteous, thrice-holy God is to be upheld and proclaimed to every man, and every member of the human race is accountable to be obedient.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490823942

Jesse Clarence Ford

I was born to my parents, Laban and Florence Ford, in 1926. I attended U.G. High and have earned a Bible school diploma. My studies were done at Calvary College, Sue Bennett College, American College, and the Dallas Theological Seminary. I have spent more than fifty years in pastoral ministries, including in the student pastorate and interim pastorate at the Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church.

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Copyright © 2014 Jesse Clarence Ford.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-2393-5 (sc)

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WestBow Press rev. date: 2/27/2014

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

The Purpose of this Book

Chapter I    The Principles of Baptism

Chapter II    The Proper Basis for Baptism

Chapter III    The Precise Witness Of Baptism

Chapter IV    The Precise Clarity Of Baptism

Chapter V   The Practical Concepts In Baptism

Chapter VI   The Potential Crisis And Baptism

Chapter VII   The Problems Of Infant Baptism

Chapter VIII   The Peril Of Doubt In Baptism

Chapter IX   Patience And Passion In Baptism

Chapter X   Persecutions Stirred By Baptism

Chapter XI   Prayer, The Heart Of Baptism

Chapter XII   Portrayal Of Spirit Control In Baptism

Chapter XIII   Power Of Change By Baptism

Chapter XIV   The Personal Statements On Baptism

Chapter XV   The Presence Of God In Baptism

Chapter XVI   Perfect Rest In Baptism

Chapter XVII   The Principles Ignored In Infant Baptism

Chapter XVIII   The Puzzles Of Baptism

Chapter XIX    Pressing For The Prize In Baptism

Chapter XX   Passion Of Obedience In Baptism

Chapter XXI   The Peace That Comes In Baptism

Conclusion

About the Author

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED to my family who have given their support, my wife has been very patient, which has proven to be of immeasurable help. I wish to thank them and, also, those under whose ministry and service I have sat, but particularly I give my thanks to The Living Book, which I have read through at least 70 times with awe. It is the God-breathed Book!

FOREWORD

B uried with Christ in death and raised to walk in newness of life, I baptize you in The Name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. You may recall these word or similar words as you fondly remember your own baptism experience. Whatever your own experience, this text serves to illuminate and clarify The Ordinance of Baptism and its role in the Christian Life.

In this scholarly text, J.C. Ford presents the Biblical origins and purpose of baptism and examines long-held religious beliefs. It is rich with references from both The Old and New Testament as well as other historical and academic works. He vividly tracks the History of baptism through the ages and explains its practicality and relevance to the believer in this postmodern era. In a logical and passionate manner, Pastor Ford takes on such topics as the prerequisites of baptism, the meaning of baptism, infant baptism and much more.

This volume provides meaningful insight and instruction for all who seek to know more about the beautiful Ordinance of Baptism. From the seminary student to the minister, to the new believer, all will benefit from the wealth of information contained within these pages. For those contemplating their own baptism, the evidence presented in this text will hopefully serve as the catalyst for you to proceed we trust this text will bless your life and deepen your understanding of baptism as it has ours. As we have had the opportunity to know and worship with Pastor Ford for several years, we hope that this documentary work offers the reader even a small glimpse into the life of the author as it reflects the integrity and fervor with which he preaches, teaches, and lives.

Dr. David Edwards, M.D.            Dr. Robin Edwards, Ph.D.

(The self-evident scholarship of these two highly valued scientific analysts is so deeply appreciated in their voluntary support of this investigation and work of structuring this volume in a clear, properly documented manner that we trust may be used of God to answer questions far too many people live and die without finding comforting answers.)

INTRODUCTION

I am deeply aware of the total chaos of the professing Church around us, with Bible ministers tip-toeing softly about. Baptism, and all that it represents, is not explained as it needs to be and its importance is tragically overlooked. Let Truth be thundered with the Power of The Holy Spirit of God and with the infinite Authority of Almighty God!! I fail to relate to a Church that ignores The Great Commission; and will not obey God! I believe the living Christ does, also. Further, I am stunned at the doctrines, activities, and indulgences that have been broadly and freely used by the ‘church’.

Even Augustine, in his anti-Donatistic writings defends ‘heretical’ baptism (baptizo) by the following course of argument: "Baptism (baptizo) is an institution of Christ, shortly before his ascension, to be performed in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It took the place of circumcision and was a sign and seal of church membership. It is the outward mark of Christian discipleship, the rite of initiation into the covenant of grace. It is the sacrament of repentance (conversion), of remission of sins and of regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the nature of the case it is to be received but once. It incorporates the penitent sinner in the visible church, and entitles him to all the privileges, and binds him to all the duties of this communion." HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, Philip Schaff, Vol. 1, p.466-467.

We must understand that there are a number of things in Augustine’s statement that we would want to discuss with him; but, to try to make him an endorser of sprinkling for baptism, would hardly pass muster; and, to assume that he was an advocate of such procedure must be totally incorrect. I see nothing in Augustine that endorses sprinkling and immersion was not called into question until long after Augustine’s time. You will please note there is no Scripture that states ‘It (baptism) took the place of circumcision’, or ‘It is the sacrament of repentance (conversion).’ A sacrament means that these things help to save the sinner, which is not true.

"And Jesus came and Spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing (Baptizontes) them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.

"AND WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language.

AND THEY WERE ALL AMAZED and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not these who speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Paarthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Palphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene and sojourners of Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Araabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:1-11.

HAD THERE BEEN a firm holding to The Scriptures, there would be no tongues movement! The modern Church is as pathetic as the Church of Corinth! Obviously, the real experience is here; and, the amazing thing is that every man heard them speak in his own language. There is not a proper work when every man does NOT hear in the tongue wherein they were born!" The Church in Corinth is NOT the Church to imitate the folly of Corinth. HERESY BEGAN EARLY and it began with the tares (matthew 13:25) and the leaven (Matthew 13:33), but it spread like wild fire; legalism, changing of the fruit of the vine to the actual Blood of Christ, sprinkling for baptism, without warrant, etc.! The heresy of Covenant Theology did not begin in earnest until the 16th Century. Sprinkling came as a substitute for baptize (immersion) with the introducing of infants to baptism. Infants are shielded by the Blood of Christ until accountability, just as all creation belongs to Christ by right of redemption! (Matthew 19:14). The election process and progression is not to be cheated out of the repentance and active Faith process, when Faith has become a reality and a deliberate act.

(Covenant theologians COMPLETELY ignore the meaning of the word: baptizontes.) Exodus 40:12-16 Washed with water was the COMPLETE WASHING of Aaron and his sons for the work of the ministry. ALL BELIEVERS are ‘believer priests’! Proselyte baptism was practiced before John the Baptist. (Washed with water There is no instance in which it signifies to make a partial application of water by affusion or sprinkling, or to cleanse, to purify, apart from the literal act of immersion as the means of cleansing or purifying. See Broadus on Immersion) Systematic Theology, A.H. Strong, p.933.) II Corinthians 5:17.

Let the Character of God’s standard of quality be administered to the Redeemed. We ought to obey God, rather than men. Acts 5:2

WHY SHOULD CHRISTIAN BAPTISM cause division among earnest Church people who truly love God, since it is The answer of a good conscience toward God? I Peter 3:21

At a l97l Winter Youth Retreat at a Baptist Camp, intelligent and earnest young people were asking the following questions out of their deep personal desire to know answers and truly please God:

(1)   why do so many different pastors give different views on certain points of the bible? A kid just doest know what is right or wrong.

(2)   Why do Baptists believe in being immersed instead of being sprinkled like Lutherans?

(3)   Is it wrong to be sprinkled, as a way of baptizing? or is it better to be immersed?

These were earnest, courteous questions which are deserving of the Bible’s correct answer that is founded on what the Inspired Word of God teaches, and, on how the Church, in history, came to its present state of division.

DARE GOD’S LOCAL CHURCHES, entrusted with the Truth of Almighty God, continue to be like the two senators, a Democrat and a Republican, who met on a subway train which runs to the Capitol? They began discussing a bill they were about to vote on and found they were in perfect agreement on it.

You know, this scares me, said one to the other, This is the first time we have ever agreed on a matter of public policy. I know! Replied the other, And it really makes me suspicious that I’m absolutely wrong in how I’m planning to vote.

The Church stands responsible before the Eternal and Infinitely Holy God to be OBEDIENT, to be accurate and diligently faithful, sounding the alert in teaching the Truths of His Holy Scriptures, even though some have been wrongly taught and must be very gently taught the truths, as they were Given by the Holy Spirit. This is not optional!! I Peter 2:2.

The King James Version has been used in all references. Where we have used literal translations this has been indicated. I would like to express deep appreciation to all authors for the texts that have been quoted; and have sought to give credit in each case.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK

W HEREAS JESUS CAME and spoke unto them, saying, All Authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen, and,

WHEREAS The Book of Revelation, Chapters two and three, provide The beautiful Biblical Outline of The Church Age, providing Infinite warning of Church apostasy; and, that this apostasy was persistent to near the point of infinity, as verified in the New Testament in many places, with the strong heralding of it in II Thessalonians 2:3-12, II Timothy 3, etc. sounding that alert like the blaring of a fog-horn; and,

WHEREAS I was stunned to read a book of 657 pages entitled "The Fundamentals’ without a single reference to baptism, and, I mean NO reference, and,

WHEREAS The Great Commission is THE MISSION OF HIS CHURCH, through this age, as ordered of God, (Matthew 28:l8-20), with the Church drifting madly from its moorings of ordered faith, from its very inception; and ordination, and,

WHEREAS in the current Church is tragic evidence that Satan, the destroyer, is daily using every weapon at his command to stop, hinder, distort and defy the Infinite eternal Work of God, I seek in this effort to counter as much of such destructive work as possible; and,

WHEREAS, knowing that I stand accountable to The Eternal God to make those facts known with the vehemence of infinity,

THEREFORE, be it resolved with full heart and voice, to give diligent attention to The Great Commission in all of its parts, particularly baptism, that the pages which follow shall provide in very concise and efficient way, The Holy Scriptures relative to Baptism and the reasons for martyrdom. We, therefore, very prayerfully send forth these pages!!

The Unity of The Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-3) is always to be sought in every part of The Church Age; making the vivid, living, vital message of the Gospel of The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ the illuminating glow of Glory that it is! The Majesty, and Light that should surround His Holy Name which is above every name, and, at which every knee shall bow, this, Friend, most certainly must be seen!!

ON THAT PREMISE; AND, ON THAT ALONE, IT IS MOST CERTAINLY IN ORDER THAT HIS OWN CHURCH BE OBEDIENT TO IT’S HIGH, Phil.3:14 HOLY II Tim. 1:9 AND HEAVENLY CALLING Heb. 3:1, TO LOGICALLY PROCEED IN MAKING TRUTH KNOWN TO OUR LOST WORLD! FOR EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO HIM AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD! Isaiah 45:23,24; Romans 14:11,12; Philippians 2:9-11.

How can a disobedient Church call the world to The Obedience of Christ??

Dr. J. Clarence Ford, Litt.D.

CHAPTER 1

THE PRINCIPLES OF BAPTISM

"A ND JESUS CAME and spake unto them, saying, All power is give unto me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:15-18

"THEREFORE, LET ALL THE HOUSE of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both LORD and CHRIST.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and unto the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, ;what shall we do?

"Then said Peter unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as manay as the as the Lord your God shall call.

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying Save yourselves from this untoward generation.’

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized (eBaptisthasan): And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 236-41

Father, Mother and John were having family worship. Dad was reading the Bible and came across this verse, Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105) John asked, What does that verse mean, Dad?"

His father answered, Thy Word means the Bible. The Bible guides us and lights our pathway. It shows us where we must go and how we must live.

mother said, "When I hear that verse I always think of something that happened when I was a little girl. One day my cousin from the city was visiting me. In the afternoon we took a walk up the mountain to look for wild flowers. We had a good time. We did not notice that the sun was setting. When it began to get dark, we decided that we must hurry home. Soon we found out that we were lost! We could not find the way home. It grew darker and darker.. How scared we were!

"Suddenly I saw something! Far below there was a light. I said ‘look! There was a light coming toward us! ’ Soon we heard a voice calling us.

We both shouted. The light kept coming toward us. Then Father appeared, carrying a lantern. How happy we were to see him! We followed him down the mountain. The lantern lighted our pathway until we reached home. Mother was anxiously waiting for us. She had a good supper ready.The Bible is like the lantern my father carried. It guides along the pathway to our Heavenly Home!

John said, "Oh, Mother I am so glad that God has given us a light for our pathway. I will always love Gods Word! Mrs Alice Marie Knight’s stories for Children and youth, p. 8, 9.

YE MEN OF ISRAEL, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Acts 2:22-24

"I BEHELD till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His Head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and His Wheels as burning fire.

"I saw in the night visions, and behold One like the Son of man came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before Him.

And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His Dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:9,13-14.

"AND I SAW in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals …………And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book, neither to look there on … AND ONE OF THE ELDERS saith unto me, weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the Book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

"And, I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Sp;irits of God sent forth into all the earth. And He came and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne." Revelation 5:1,4-7.

"The authorities quoted in Smith and Cheetham. 161. and more fully in Augusti, ie. Ter mergitamur "Immersion was very natural in Southern climates. We are not concerned with the ‘natural’ We are dealing with a principle! Our Lord came in Southern climates. The baptistries of the Nicene Age were for immersion. It is the symbol of Death, Burial and Resurrection. DEATH to the ‘old’ and RESURRECTION to New Life! We are to walk in Newness of Life.

Baptizo (Complete Immersion) not Rantizo (Sprinkling) is used for Baptism, even though it is used of blood, even water; but Rantizo never is it used of the Baptismal figure!KNOW YE NOT that, as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His Death? (‘into’ is highly significant, having the total, absolute, transforming, ‘new creation’ significance.)

Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3o-4

BAPTISM IS A STRIKING figure of death, burial, and resurrection; a symbol of release from earthly things; and, a transport into the eternal. The Old Testament speaks of Hades and of an eternal separation between the blessed and the cursed. A meddling in this realm (The realm of the dead.) is witnessed in I Samuel 28:7-20; but a cloud surrounds the realm and is not to be entered; whereas, those who choose to involve themselves with this treacherous realm find themselves clearly beyond the patience of G\The Holy Scriptures speak, in the Fifth Century B.C., in Daniel 12:2-3 of human experience arriving at the Bar of God: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.AND THEY THAT BE WISE shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." Daniel 12:3 The Spirit of God was stirring. John the Baptist with his fervent preaching had moved all Judea to repentance, with the exception of the religious leaders of the day. These were filled with fear of the Roman Empire.

Caesar, with his armies had stopped the wars between Egypt and Syria and something of a settled peace had brought the world into a rather tense submission, yet it was the only peace the world at large was to know!

Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew to him both many of the Jews, and the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful; things concerning him, and the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day. JOSEPHUS Antiquities, xvii

AND Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, BAPTIZING THEM INTO (eis) THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS whatsoever I have commanded you: and Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20.

May we begin by praying with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23,24.

John the Baptist, or John the baptizer, was moved greatly from birth, ultimately spending much time alone in the wilderness, in prayer and preaching with a passion that could not be resisted, having been filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb.

Then went out to him all Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Matthew 3:5,6

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon, near to Salim, because there was much water there; and, they came and were baptized. John 3:23-24.

"But when he (John the Baptist) saw many of the Pharisees and Saducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Matt. 3:7-9.

Throngs by the thousands followed the Lord Jesus Christ in His Mission and ministry. He fed the multitudes, healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, restored sight to the blind and raised their dead. But He was despised and rejected of men, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3. THEN CAME THE HOUR of the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, used his own tomb, hewn in stone, for the burial of The Son of God! It appears that he believed God as Abraham did of the death of Isaac. (Hebrews 11:17-19). THE RESURRECTION and the forty days after the Resurrection, that were filled with stunning revelations! And, His Ascension was witnessed by more than 500 brethren at once! I Corinthians 15:6. Then, there was the message they proclaimed:

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

"Jesus answered, and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. John 3:1-3.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one. Romans 3:10

He came unto His Own, and His Own received Him not!

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He the authority (exousian tekna Theou genesthai) Authority the children of God to be even to them that believe on His Name: (This is in the durative tense, meaning it is forever!!) Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John l:ll-13

There was literal terror when The Son of God arose from the dead! when Lazarus was raised panic had seized the leaders of Israel (Matthew 12:1-4) and the Pharisees were terror stricken (John 11:47,48)! Persecution is the fruit of fear! It appears that Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, assumed from the revelation that the nation was, by this means, to escape the wrath of the Romans! John 11:49-52. (I think that is fascinating!)

Persecution began immediately, with the locked doors of the upper room! The raging of the Pharisees and of the Saducees (who say there is no resurrection of the dead), the Essenes and others who feared for their lives, lest they become victims of Caesar’s wrath took refuge in the caves of Engedi!

IN CHAPTER FOUR of the Acts of the Apostles, persecutions began in earnest and the believers increased to about 5,000, the Apostles were put in the hold for overnight, the panic began and never ceased!

The wrath and raging of the Pharisees and Saducees continued to make havoc of the church, Stephen saw the Lord Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ‘he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: and after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once:’ I Cor.15:5-7 he was seen of James; then of all the apostles, he was seen of Paul. My Mother saw little children, Mr. Knewtson, Sunday school superintendent saw an angel, Dwight L. Moody saw the Glory of God, many people who have been revived saw amazing things, need I say more???

"And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.

"Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the Prophet Isaiah, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And He desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before His shearer, so opened He not his mouth: In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall decare His generation, for His life is taken from the earth.

"AND THE EUNUCH answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of Himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water, and the eunuch said, see here is water: What doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If Thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is