Pope Shenouda III
Regarding the practical administration of baptism, when the Jews believed on the Day of Pentecost, St. Peter immediately called them to baptism. He said: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). On that day 3000 believers were baptised. Undoubtedly, baptising that multitude was a tedious and difficult task and must have taken a long time. Unless baptism was so important for Salvation the Apostles would of bypassed it, avoiding the hassel of baptising all these thousands, and we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other pages. It would have been easier for the Apostles to say: "Since you now believe, brethren, you have received salvation. Go, the Lord's blessing be with you."
