They are not Baptizing in the name of Jesus only LOL. When we read the Book of Acts we must remember 1. Luke wrote it. The Acts 2:38 account had already happened. Peter and the other disciples we Order not to preach of Jesus.
Peter in Acts preaches Christ who was Jesus of Nazareth whom they crucified. Acts 2:22-36
They were proclaiming Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. In Chapter four of Acts, they were asked a question by Caiaphas the high priest
“
By what power or by what name have you done this?”
in Verse 8 Peter no longer hiding or denying Jesus but full of the Holy Spirit said:
“Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed
done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that
by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
- Why was the name of Jesus emphasized in baptism in Acts?
because Jesus Christ was the authority by which they spoke or did what they did in preaching, healing, and baptizing.
This was done in direct opposition and defiance to the order or command they were given in chapter 4 of Acts.
18 they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Baptizing in the name of Jesus was not a method of requirement it was a public witness to obeying God and not the when they were ordered not to do so.
When they baptized they were asked " by what name do you do this? " That does not mean they were asking when you perform a baptism in water what word do you speak.
the question " by what name do you baptize it " was asking who gave you the authority to do this?
They said Jesus of Nazareth the Christ who was crucified and rose again.