What does the Bible say about baptism?

Key Bible verses about baptism

1. Matthew 28:19-20

   Go and make disciples of 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 that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

2. Matthew 3:16

   Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.

3. Acts 2:38

   Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

4. Acts 2:41

   Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

5. Acts 8:36-38

   As they went on the way, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

6. Acts 10:47-48

   “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.” He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

7. Acts 16:30-33

   brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.

8. Acts 22:16

   Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

9. Romans 6:3-4

   Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

10. Colossians 2:12

    having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

11. Galatians 3:27

    For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

12. 1 Peter 3:21

    This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Scripture: World English Bible (public domain). Short quotations in the introduction are from the ESV. Read each passage in its chapter for the full context.