"The Baptism of the Holy Spirit" that you speak of is only recorded twice in the New Testament: at Pentecost and with Cornelius. Water baptism, which is the baptism that is mentioned in all 10 conversion stories in Acts, is the baptism that is commanded by Jesus himself (Mark 16:16). It is also the baptism commanded by the apostles (Acts 2:38).
As for what Peter says in 1 Peter 3, you are missing the point. He is saying that the water itself doesn't save us. That is true. By being baptized, a penitent sinner is doing as God commanded him, and having their sins washed away. (Acts 22:16)
The Baptism that occured with Cornelius (minus the speaking in tongues) happens now everytime one believes in Christ.
He is placed by the Holy Spirit into Union with Christ (1Cor.12)
Water baptism, which is the baptism that is mentioned in all 10 conversion stories in Acts, is the baptism that is commanded by Jesus himself (Mark 16:16).
Mark 16 is not speaking of water baptism, it is speaking of spirit baptism.
The last verse states nothing about not getting baptized leading to one being damned, only disbelief.
When one believes in Christ, then one is baptized by the Holy Spirit and saved.
It is also the baptism commanded by the apostles (Acts 2:38).
And Peter never preached that Gospel again.
That was the Kingdom gospel, not the Gospel of the grace of God for this dispensation (1Cor.15:3-5)
Peter says in 1Pet (well after Acts 2) that Baptism is simply a figure.
A 'figure' is a representation of something else.
That figure is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and when one goes under the water he is showing the world that he has become identifed with Christ.
The water does nothing to his sins, which have already been forgiven because of his earlier faith.
As for what Peter says in 1 Peter 3, you are missing the point. He is saying that the water itself doesn't save us. That is true. By being baptized, a penitent sinner is doing as God commanded him, and having their sins washed away. (Acts 22:16)
Acts 22:16 is referring back to when Paul was saved and Ananias was still referring to the Gospel preached by John the Baptist.
That Gospel had changed as noted by Paul in Acts 19:3-5.
Now, why would these men have to be baptized again if the first baptism washed away their sins and saved them?
These men were saved, but had not entered into the church through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and so had to be re-baptized as being identified with the work of the Resurrected Christ.
Today, in the church age, we preach the gospel of the grace of God and spirit baptism is what places into union with the Body of Christ and Christ Himself.
Water baptism does nothing to anyone sins since they have been forgiven before one enters the water as a saved man.