19 Bible Verses about Baptism

Baptism is an important sacrament of the church, marked by ceremonial use of water, inducting a believer into the Christian church. These Bible verses about baptism encourage people to repent of their sins, put their faith in Jesus, and receive the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist immersed people in water who repented of their sins and turned to God. The ceremony came to represent the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-14).

Early followers of Christ were baptized with water symbolizing that although they were spiritually dead because of their sins, they were raised to new life through faith in Christ.

John the Baptist told his followers that Jesus, the lamb of God, would come to take away the sins of the world, (John 1: 29) and he would baptize people with fire. John’s prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when thousands of people turned from their sins and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The following scripture verses help us have a fuller understanding of the meaning of baptism.

Baptism Scriptures

Luke 3:21-22

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Acts 2:41

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Ephesians 4:4-6

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1 Peter 3:21

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Repent and be Baptized

Acts 2:38

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

Acts 22:16

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.

Baptized in Christ

Romans 6:3-4

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Galatians 3:26-27

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Colossians 2:11–12

In him you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

John 1:33

I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

John 3:5

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Luke 3:16

John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Acts 1:5

For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

Acts 2:3-4 

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 19:4-6

And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Titus 3:5

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.