The famous expression “and all his household” as
mentioned in Acts 16:33 about the conversion and baptism of Paul and Silas’s jailer,
it is used by Paedobaptists, to defend their theory that infants were included
in these family’s baptism, and therefore, hold it as an apostolic practice.
THE QUOTES
This expression in the book of Acts, it is also used in
other parts of the Scriptures:
At that hour of the night the jailer took
them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were
baptized.
Acts 16:33
And when she was baptized, and her household,
Acts 16:15
And I baptized also the household of
Stephanas:
1Corinthians 1:16
He will convey to you a message by which you
and all your household will be saved.'
Acts 11:14
The word translated as “household” in Greek, is Oἶκος,
which is related by the context to ‘family’. In other words, these people were
baptized themselves, together with all their families, and possibly also slaves
and servants and young children. However, this may not have included infants as
traditionally is presented.
Another reason that is given by Infant baptizers, is that
if Baptism replaces the old circumcision as the entry ritual into the believing
community, and this included children, therefore, Baptism should also include
infants. As an extension of the parent’s faith.
ANALYZING
Firstly, it should be noticed that Circumcision, even
when it is the point of entry into the old covenant tribe and was replaced by
Baptism; it is still the entry to a totally different Pact, under different
conditions.
The Old Covenant was established in basis of the
obedience to the Mosaic Law and its 613 commandments; which were given only to
the nation of Israel, based on blood lines (Exodus 24:7; Deuteronomy 4:1; 30:16;
James 2:10); while the New Covenant is
based on faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on behalf of all humanity,
through Grace, and open to anyone who believes and repents (Acts 2:21; 3:20; 16:30-31;
Romans 5:18; 10:9-10; Titus 2:11 ).
Even as Baptism is the new door entry into the Covenant
of Grace, this is applied to any human being who choses to follow Jesus Christ
as Lord and Saviour, without any consideration of race, nationality, promise, age,
sex, civil or economic status; and under no necessity to submit to the Jewish
Law as necessity for salvation. It is based on grace, through personal faith
and conversion to Jesus of Nazareth. Without this personal faith, salvation is
impossible
(Hebrews 7:19; 11:6; Galatians 2:16)
Oἶκος, on the other hand, it implies indeed the whole family
unit of the people involved, where this word is mentioned. However, considering
the requirement of ‘personal faith’ for salvation, it is understood that this ‘family’
is an expression that automatically excludes anyone who refuses to accept the faith,
or it is incapable to understand it.
It is worth to notice, that every single time the
expression ‘household’ is used in the NT; it involved a personal conversion and
submission of anyone involved in that ‘household’:
ACTS 16:33
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him
and to all who were in his house. … And he rejoiced along with his entire
household that he had believed in God.
(Acts 16:32, 34)
ACTS 16:15
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia,
from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of
God.
(Acts 16:14)
1CORINTHIANS 1:16
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to
preach the gospel,
(1Corinthians 1:17)
ACTS 11:14
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion
of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all
his household, … For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling
God. … For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God…. For
they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.
When they heard these things, they fell
silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has
granted repentance that leads to life.
(Acts 11:1-2, 44, 46, 18)
In the cases of Acts 16:33, the whole house believed the
announcement and rejoiced in the Lord.
In Acts 16:15, Lydia was a convert proselyte to the
Jewish religion, and obviously her whole family had known of the Law and the
Prophets, and that is why they found it easy to accept the Messianic role of
Jesus.
In 1Corinthians 1:16, speaking of the baptism of Stephanas’
family, Paul mentions that his mission was not to celebrate baptisms, but to
preach conversion, pointing out the necessity of personal faith and conversion
over the ritual of baptism, which submits the reason to be of this sacrament to
a pre-existing faith.
Finally, in the case of Acts 11:14, it is obvious that
all the ‘household’ baptized believed and were filled with the Holy Spirit in
the same way as in Pentecost, speaking in tongues, who the suddenly calmed down
and praised God for his mercy. They all accepted Jesus.
FINAL WORD
The article 1252 of the Roman Catholic catechism says:
“The practice of infant Baptism is an
immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this
practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the
beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households"
received baptism, infants may also have been baptized”
RCC – Art 1252
It clearly explains that Infant baptism was born from
Tradition, and that the word ‘household’ “may” mean that also infants were
involved but does not ensures it.
The reason is that to consider that infants were
involved, based on the Jewish concept of inheritance, is an empty presumption, and
totally contrary to the Christian gospel, that demands a personal conversion
before any sacrament could be celebrated.
Omar Flores.
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