SEV Biblia, Chapter 10:47
Entonces Pedro respondi: ¿Puede alguno impedir el agua, para que no sean bautizados stos que han recibido el Espíritu Santo tambin como nosotros?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 10:47
Verse 47. Can any man forbid water] These had evidently received the Holy Ghost, and consequently were become members of the mystical body of Christ; and yet St. Peter requires that they shall receive baptism by water, that they might become members of the Christian Church. In other cases, they received baptism first, and the Spirit afterwards by the imposition of hands: see chap. xix. 4-6, where the disciples who had received only the baptism of John were baptized again with water in the name of the Lord Jesus; and, after even this, the apostles prayed, and laid their hands on them, before they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. So we find that Jesus Christ had his water baptism as well as John; and that even he who gave the baptism of the Holy Ghost required the administration of water baptism also. Therefore the baptism of the Spirit did not supersede the baptism by water; nor indeed can it; as baptism, as well as the supper of our Lord, were intended, not only to be means of grace, but standing, irrefragable proofs of the truth of Christianity.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 47. Can any man forbid water , etc.] The use of his river, or bath, or what conveniency he may have for baptizing persons: which shows, that it required a place of some quantity of water, sufficient for baptism by immersion, otherwise it would not be in the power of any man to hinder them having a little water, to be sprinkled or poured on the face: unless rather by water should be meant baptism itself; and then the sense is, who can forbid these persons the ordinance of baptism, or deny the administration of it to them? for such who have the Spirit of Christ, are openly Christs, and therefore have a right to his ordinances; such, being enlightened by him, are able to see to the end of the ordinance; and to such only can it be of use, and they only can please God in it: nor should it be forbidden them; this is to withstand God, act contrary to the commission of Christ, and resist the Holy Ghost; no, not though Gentiles: converted Gentiles, have as good a right as any to this ordinance; descent from Abraham gives no right to it; there is no difference among men under the Gospel dispensation; Christs commission reaches both to Jews and Gentiles; and there is but one baptism for both. That these should not be baptized ; though they are uncircumcised Gentiles: which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we ; the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit; though, no doubt also, they had received the Spirit, as a spirit of illumination and conviction, as a spirit of regeneration, sanctification, and conversion, and as a spirit of faith and adoption, and as a witness, earnest, and pledge of future glory: and receiving him supposes, that they were without him before, and that he is a gift of Gods free grace unto them; and which is no other than the baptism of the Spirit, and is a necessary pre-requisite to water baptism; and they that have the one, are right subjects of the other; nor ought it to be denied them. From hence it appears that water baptism is an ordinance of Christ, to be continued under the Gospel dispensation; it was not only what was practised in the times of John and of Christ, but what was practised by the apostles after the ascension of Christ, in compliance with the commission he gave, which could have respect to no other baptism; since the apostles were not capable of baptizing with any other, not with the baptism of the Spirit: and it is certain from hence, and by other instances, that they did baptize in water; and from the apostles question it seems, that it must be by immersion in water, as before observed; and from what follows it is clear, that such who are partakers of the Holy Spirit and his grace, are the proper subjects of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 44-48 - The Holy Ghost fell upon others after they were baptized, to confir them in the faith; but upon these Gentiles before they were baptized to show that God does not confine himself to outward signs. The Holy Ghost fell upon those who were neither circumcised nor baptized; it is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. They magnifie God, and spake of Christ and the benefits of redemption. Whatever gif we are endued with, we ought to honour God with it. The believing Jew who were present, were astonished that the gift of the Holy Ghost wa poured out upon the Gentiles also. By mistaken notions of things, we make difficult for ourselves as to the methods of Divine providence an grace. As they were undeniably baptized with the Holy Ghost, Pete concluded they were not to be refused the baptism of water, and the ordinance was administered. The argument is conclusive; can we deny the sign to those who have received the things signified? Those who have some acquaintance with Christ, cannot but desire more. Even those wh have received the Holy Ghost, must see their need of daily learnin more of the truth __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
μητι 3385 PRT-I το 3588 T-ASN υδωρ 5204 N-ASN κωλυσαι 2967 5658 V-AAN δυναται 1410 5736 V-PNI-3S τις 5100 X-NSM του 3588 T-GSM μη 3361 PRT-N βαπτισθηναι 907 5683 V-APN τουτους 5128 D-APM οιτινες 3748 R-NPM το 3588 T-ASN πνευμα 4151 N-ASN το 3588 T-ASN αγιον 40 A-ASN ελαβον 2983 5627 V-2AAI-3P καθως 2531 ADV και 2532 CONJ ημεις 2249 P-1NP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
47. Water (to udwr). Note the article: the water; co-ordinating the water with the Spirit (see 1 John v. 8), and designating water as the recognized and customary element of baptism.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
10:47 {Can any man forbid the water?} (meti to hudwr dunatai kwl-sai tis?). The negative meti expects the answer _No_. The evidence was indisputable that these Gentiles were converted and so were entitled to be baptized. See the similar idiom in #Lu 6:39. Note the article with "water." Here the baptism of the Holy Spirit had preceded the baptism of water (#Ac 1:5; 11:16). "The greater had been bestowed; could the lesser be withheld?" (Knowling). {That these should not be baptized} (tou me baptisqenai toutous). Ablative case of the articular first aorist passive infinitive of baptizw with the redundant negative after the verb of hindering (kwl-sai) and the accusative of general reference (toutous). The redundant negative after the verb of hindering is not necessary though often used in ancient Greek and in the _Koin_ (papyri). Without it see #Mt 19:14; Ac 8:36 and with it see #Lu 4:42; 24:16; Ac 14:18. Cf. Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 1061, 1094, 1171. The triple negatives here are a bit confusing to the modern mind (meti in the question, kwl-sai, to hinder or to cut off, me with baptisthnai). Literally, Can any one cut off the water from the being baptized as to these? Meyer: "The water is in this animated language conceived as the element offering itself for the baptism." {As well as we} (hws kai hemeis). The argument was conclusive. God had spoken. Note the query of the eunuch to Philip (#Ac 8:36).
