Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Then they that [gladly] received his word. [The bracketed word - asmenoos (G780) - is insufficiently supported.]
Were baptized, х hoi (G3588) men (G3303) oun (G3767) apodexamenoi (G588) ton (G3588) logon (G3056) autou (G846) ebaptistheesan (G907)] - rather, 'They then, having received his word, were baptized.'
And the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls. Fitting inauguration this of the new kingdom, as emphatically an economy of the Spirit! And was not this first draught of "men" before Thine eye, O blessed Saviour-to whom the whole future of Thy kingdom lay open from the first-when Thou saidst to this same trembling apostle, as he lay crouching at Thy feet in his own boat, overwhelmed by the miraculous draught of fish, "Fear not, Simon; from henceforth thou shalt cash men"? As to the baptism of this vast multitude, 'it is difficult (remarks Olshausen) to say how three thousand could be baptized in one day, according to the old practice of complete submersion; and the more so as in Jerusalem there is no water at hand, except Kedron and a few pools. The difficulty can only be removed by supposing that they already employed sprinkling, or baptized in houses in large vessels. Formal submersion in rivers, or larger quantities of water, probably took place only where the locality conveniently allowed of it.'