No, Peter did not disobey Christ when he commanded the Jews to be baptized in the name of Jesus in Acts 2:38. While at first glance there may appear to be a discrepancy between Matthew 28:19, where Jesus commands baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and Peter’s instruction in Acts 2:38, a closer examination reveals harmony between the two passages.
The Trinitarian Name and the Authority of Christ
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His disciples to baptize in the triune name of God: “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This underscores the unity and co-equal authority of the three Persons of the Godhead. Baptism in the triune name signifies being brought into covenant fellowship with the one true God.
When Peter tells the crowd at Pentecost to “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38), he is not altering or neglecting Jesus’ command. Rather, he emphasizes Jesus’ authority as the Messiah, the One who fulfills the promises of the Old Testament and has been exalted as Lord. This focus was particularly appropriate for his Jewish audience, who had rejected Jesus as the Messiah and crucified Him (Acts 2:36). By calling them to be baptized “in the name of Jesus,” Peter is emphasizing their need to repent of their rejection of Christ and publicly acknowledge Him as the Savior.
Baptism in Jesus’ Name as a Theological Emphasis
The phrase “in the name of Jesus Christ” does not mean a formula excluding the Father and the Holy Spirit. Instead, it highlights the authority and work of Christ as the central figure in salvation. To be baptized in the name of Jesus is to be baptized under His authority and into His saving work. This is consistent with the broader New Testament teaching that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Christ (Matthew 28:18).
Other passages in Acts also describe baptism in the name of Jesus (e.g., Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5). These references do not contradict the Trinitarian formula of Matthew 28:19 but instead reflect the early Church’s emphasis on Christ’s lordship and the centrality of His role in redemption.
Harmony Between the Two
Theologically, to baptize in the name of Jesus is to baptize in the name of the triune God. Jesus is fully God, the Son who reveals the Father and sends the Spirit. Thus, invoking the name of Jesus in baptism is not a denial of the Father or the Spirit but an acknowledgment of the full deity of Christ and His mediatorial role in salvation.
The apparent difference in wording between Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38 can be understood as a matter of emphasis rather than contradiction. Matthew 28:19 presents the formal liturgical formula for baptism, while Acts 2:38 emphasizes the faith in Jesus Christ required for salvation, particularly in the context of Peter’s sermon to a Jewish audience.
Conclusion
Peter’s command to be baptized in the name of Jesus does not conflict with Christ’s instruction to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Both point to the same theological reality: that salvation comes through the triune God, revealed in and through Jesus Christ. Peter was faithful to Christ’s command, applying it in a way that was contextually appropriate for his audience while remaining true to the Trinitarian nature of Christian baptism.
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