“you think that when the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius and his household, Peter didn’t realize that it was from God”
And what does that tell you? Cornelius and his household received and manifested Holy Spirit “which IS the Baptism’ before Peter performed his water ritual. That ties in to Peter’s realization of Holy Spirit Baptism later in in Acts 11:16, which is consistent with what the Lord says in Act 1:5 and the source of Peter’s realization:
Act 1:5 -
“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
The new administration of grace brought on the new baptism in Christ. And what the Lord said here is certainly consistent with what John the Baptist said himself:
Luke 3:16 -
“John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire”
Note there’s no mention and inclusion of water.
“you’ve just declared Acts 2:38 to not be from heaven, but of men. And you seem to have dismissed these as well”
The passage really makes no mention of water. Still, you keep sidestepping Peter’s realization of true baptism that came later in Acts 11:16.
“Furthermore, with your interpretation, Peter should have gotten a hold of Philip, and told him to quit performing anymore water baptisms. He failed to stop Paul from baptizing everywhere he went.”
Peter was performing the works that God laid out for him and following God’s path. Apparently God did not assign him the responsibility to go chasing down and correcting other apostles in that regard.
“1Peter 3:20,21 is quite plain,.... 20 “...eight souls were saved by water.”
Here Peter is actually refuting the need for water for salvation, and the passage read correctly with it’s reference to water is actually showing that it’s NOT water that saves.
“not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
By your interpretation, you have Peter changing his understanding of the events of Acts 10, when relating the events to the brethern in Jerusalem in Acts 11. I see no doctrinal differences, just a few more words.
Paul’s conversion is in Acts chapters 9, and the retelling of it in chapter 22. The story doesn’t have any doctrinal differences. It’s just told slightly different.
You have Peter, in Acts 10:47, SAYING: “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost AS WELL AS WE.”
And you are convinced that Peter didn’t remember that that was the ‘baptism of the Holy Ghost’ until later. Simply because he tells the events with more detail?
Even verse 45 clobbers your theory. Let’s break it down::
“And they of the circumcision which believed (already had received Holy Ghost baptism) were ASTONISHED (why would that be?), as many as came with Peter, BECAUSE that on the Gentiles ALSO (see..they KNEW EXACTLY) was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
I have never seen anyone twist that story up, as much as whoever taught it to you that way.
**Act 1:5 -Luke 3:16 -Note there’s no mention and inclusion of water.**
That’s because Spirit baptism is the Lord’s job. HE required his apostles to perform water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, as his commissions collectively show (you can go back and look at them. I was a Calvinist for 28 yrs, and even they will tell you that Matt 28:19 is water baptism, commanded by the Lord).
**The passage really makes no mention of water.**
That response to Acts 2:38 shows that you don’t think Peter preached water baptism on that first day. So when did he pick up the nasty habit? Philip takes off, and is baptizing in the name of Jesus, in water; who corrupted him?
**Here Peter is actually refuting the need for water for salvation, and the passage read correctly with it’s reference to water is actually showing that it’s NOT water that saves.**
Wow, that’s like looking at a glass of water and saying, “That’s not water in that glass”.
**“not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”**
The good conscience is because of being buried with Jesus in baptism for the remission of sins, and BELIEVING it WORKS. You’re NOT taking a bath.
As I said, you would do well to look look these up (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47; and John 20:23), and compare them to each other, because they don’t contradict, and they are the Lord’s commands.