Why did Paul baptize Lydia and her family? [Acts 16:13-15]
Simply put, our Apostle did that because water baptism was an outward sign of a person's inward faith to the Nation of Israel. Water baptism was the proof to the Jewish readers that someone believed on the Lord Jesus Christ in the Prophetic program (after John the Baptist showed up).
Remember, when studying a book of the bible, we must always study it in light of its theme! Just like Galatians focuses solely on the difference between the Law program and the Grace program, and so all the passages deal with that topic, and you must look at the more difficult verses in light of that...the book of Acts was written to/about/for the Nation of Israel....to explain their fall as God's chosen people and His salvation going out to us Gentiles through Paul
Romans 11:11-13
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
And just like all the tongues, and other sign gifts, and the other miracles, signs and wonders that the Apostle did, by water baptizing people, (even Gentiles), it was proof to the Jews that those people trusted Christ, because water baptism was the standard of that day. The Jews require a sign; and so, because Acts is written for Jewish eyes primarily, we see the sign of water baptism as proof that someone believed God's Word!
1 Corinthians 1:22
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1 Corinthians 14:22
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Remember also that when you are reading the book of Acts, you are reading a time of transition as well. God is changing over from His Prophetic program with Israel, to His Mystery program with the Body of Christ. Therefore, early in Paul's ministry, he both water baptized and circumcised some like Timothy temporarily till the Lord Jesus Christ gave him more light and understanding about the one baptism of the Body of Christ.
Acts 16:3
Him [Timothy] would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Ephesians 4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Again, Acts is written to/about/for Israel, and so because of that, water baptism is very prominent, but that is not the case in Paul's 13 epistles.
1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
The Holy Ghost had Paul water baptize some, and had Luke record it for Israel because when it came to things pertaining the Jews, Paul would be as a Jew.
1 Corinthians 9:20
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
When we rightly divide the Word of Truth, and listen to our Apostle Paul, we see that our one baptism today in the Dispensation of the grace of God is a Spiritual one that God Himself does and not water!
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
So Paul baptized Lydia and her family in the book of Acts for the sake of the Jewish people who would read the book!
Hopefully this helps!
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