The same meaning of the expression

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

The same meaning of the expression "came up immediately from the water" is used in the event of Philip baptising the Ethiopian eunuch. The Holy Gospel says: "And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptised him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away" (Acts 8: 38,39). This proves that baptism was by immersion. If it were by sprinkling, it would have been adequate for Philip to sprinkle water on the eunuch while he was in the chariot without the necessity for both of them to go down into the water.