Acts 22:16

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away they sins, calling on his name.

Efforts of men to spoil this text with the insinuation that it means, "Be baptized in token of the washing away of thy sins,"[14] are frustrated by the clear and certain meaning of it. The incomparable Hackett said:

This clause states the results of baptism in language derived from the nature of the ordinance and has the meaning of "Submit to the rite in order to be forgiven."[15]

Arise and be baptized ... Vine's Greek Dictionary, as well as many commentators, has given the meaning of this as "Get yourself baptized and your sins washed away."[16] "We have here a noble testimony to the value which was assigned to holy baptism by the pure apostolic church."[17]

The present-day conceit that baptism has nothing to do with the forgiveness of sins, that it is merely a token, the so-called outward sign of an inward grace, etc - all such notions are to be rejected in the clear light of the word of God. The above verse could never have been written by the Holy Spirit if any such downgrading of the ordinance of baptism was valid. As Plumptre put it:

These words (Acts 22:22) show that for the apostle, baptism was no formal or ceremonial act (only), but was joined with repentance and faith, being presupposed, and brought with it the assurance of a real forgiveness.[18]

Nothing is more clearly taught in the New Testament than the fact of baptism being "unto the remission of sins," and that it is not to be despised as in any manner unessential, optional, or discretionary for those who truly wish to be saved. As Hervey noted, exactly the same sentiment is contained in 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5, and Ephesians 5:26.

Calling on his name ... This is not praying for salvation in the ordinary sense, although of course, prayers for salvation must accompany all acts of worship and obedience of God. Some see this text as a justification of praying directly to Jesus;[19] and as Conybeare said, "It is a reference to the confession of faith in Jesus which preceded baptism."[20]

[14] Everett F. Harrison, Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 467.

[15] B. W. Johnson, The New Testament with Explanatory Notes (Delight, Arkansas: Gospel Light Publishing Company), p. 516.

[16] E. H. Trenchard, A New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969), p. 330.

[17] John Peter Lange, op. cit., p. 402.

[18] E. H. Plumptre, Ellicott's Commentary on the Holy Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1959), p. 152.

[19] A. C. Hervey, op. cit., p. 194.

[20] J. W. Conybeare, op. cit., p. 587.