The New Testament directs us to baptize entire households:
We have references to SIX households that were the target of ministry in the NT alone. In five of these, we see they baptized the entire household:
* 1 Cor. 1:16
* Acts 11:14
* Acts 16:15
* Acts 16:25-34
* Acts 18:8
(Of course, the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 would have had no "household" to baptize)
In Judaism and among Greek-speaking Jews, you had what was called the Oikos formula (Oikos = household in Greek).
What makes the Acts' cases interesting is...
1. These were all SUDDEN baptisms. Usually in Western society, we're used to each family member coming along at their own speed -- "in God's timing" -- and the emphasis is not having one family member conform just because somebody else is...or the emphasis is on letting children "make up their OWN minds." (Such is NOT the case in Acts)
2. Acts 16 is particularly of interest because the directive "to believe" by the disciples was made ONLY to the jailer (v. 31)...
...and the ONLY ONE we are told in the account that responded with such belief was again the jailer (v. 34).
Yet...
...who was baptized? (His entire household, v. 33).
...Who was "saved" according to the disciples' promise? (The entire household, v. 31).
...Who rejoiced because of the baptismal salvation? (The entire household, v. 34)
I'm frankly not sure that with FIVE -- count 'em FIVE -- Scriptural accounts of entire-household baptisms -- most if not all done at the same time...
...exactly why people are disobedient by rebelling versus following suit.
With baseball starting up, the Scriptural score is...
...Whole-household baptisms 5...
...Age-of-accountability based baptisms 0...
* Acts 16:25-34
Act 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Act 16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Act 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
* Acts 11:14
Act 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
Act 10:33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
WITHOUT WATER BAPTISM...
* Acts 18:8
Act 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
* Acts 16:15
Act 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
The bible doesn't tell us about Lydia's family...But in view of the next two scriptures, there is no doubt how it went...
(Of course, the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 would have had no "household" to baptize)
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
WITHOUT BAPTISM!!!