Acts 19:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

When they heard this, &c.— I think it evident, beyond all dispute, that the baptism of John and of Christ were in their own nature quite different; and that it is plain in fact, that when persons in general were converted to Christianity, they were baptized of course without inquiring whether they had, or had not, received the baptism of John; which we know vast numbers did, (Matthew 3:5-6.) who probably afterwards received Christian baptism. (Comp. Acts 2:38-41; Acts 4:4; Acts 6:7.) This is evident also from the words of St. Peter to those thousands that heard him, Be ye baptized every one you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost: for since he spake to the men of Jerusalem in general and of Judaea, Acts 2:14 and since Jerusalem and all Judaea were baptized of John, says St. Matthew, Matthew 3:6 all, or at least many of those to whom he spake, must already have been baptized with the baptism of John; and yet he makes it necessary for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Whence two things are perfectly evident, and consequent from each other: 1. That St. Peter exhorts those who had been baptized with John's baptism, to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ: 2. That therefore they who were baptized with John's baptism, were not baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; which is also most evident in the words of St. Paul here. We may add, 3. As our Saviour never said openly and expressly to the Jews in general that he was the Christ, so he charges his apostles to tell no man that he was so, till his resurrection: but to what end should he do this, if both the Baptist and his disciples had before baptized all into this faith that he was the Christ, and so had published this faith to all Judaea? Only here note, that this is no ground for re-baptizing any now, by reason of the great difference between the baptism of John, and the baptism in the name of Jesus after his resurrection.