Again, you are missing or ignoring the whole meaning of a passage. Paul did not say he didn't believe in baptism, he was answering the problem of disciples that were claiming to be better than others because of who they "followed" or who baptized them. Paul chastises them for that silly, competitive way of thinking, and says that because of their silliness, he was glad he didn't baptize very many of them, to keep them from "bragging" about their Christian pedigree.... Jesus didn't send him out to see how many he could baptize, he sent him out to preach the gospel.... which includes baptism. ... you have missed the boat again on this one.
I have never said that baptism equals salvation. I have stated that baptism is a necessary part of the salvation event.... and I have given scriptures proving that is true.
Peter himself disagrees with your statement.... be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, and also receive the Spirit.
Yes, and the baptism that Jesus instituted includes the receiving of (baptism into) the Holy Spirit, along with forgiveness of sins.... still just one baptism, but in involves the Spirit now, as opposed to John's baptism.
Acts it a transition book mapping out the change from the dispensation of law to the dispensation of grace
Act 1:5 Jesus Himself outlines a global outreach that will accomplish this transition.
It begins at Pentecost with Jews only (Acts 2). These are circumcision‑covenant insiders, living under the Mosaic Law & in Acts 2, the Lord begins the New Covenant administration in a uniquely Jewish way: Repent, Be water baptized & Receive the Holy Spirit. This order is never repeated for Gentiles
BTW: Repent here means changing their minds from unbelief (Jesus is not the Messiah) to belief (Jesus is the Messiah). Peter's GOSPEL sermon makes this explicit:
Acts 2:21 Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Whoever believes Jesus is Lord will be saved.)
Vs 22, God worked miracles through Jesus (Vs24) God raised him from the dead (Vs32) I Peter am an eye witness to this fact. (Vs36) ISRAEL! God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ..
Vs 37, CONTRITION! they were pricked in their heart & said what shall we do? < BELIEVE that Jesus is Lord (reread vs 21).
Vs 38, Be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. remission comes through faith, which they already expressed (v37). Their baptism is an act of allegiance to the authority of His name.:
(SIDE NOTE: To Jewish leadership, being baptized "in Jesus' name" = idolatry > worshiping a man. A direct violation of Commandments #1 and #2.
AUTHORITY:
Phil 2:9 highly exalted him, the name which is above every name:
Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Ephesians 1:20–22, Far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name
Matthew 28:18, All authority in heaven and earth given to Jesus
Acts 2:21 Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 10:43, Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness
Jn 3:15, That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jn 3:16, whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jn 3:36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life
Acts 4:12, No other name under heaven by which we must be saved
Acts 2 concludes with: You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
About 10 years later, the New Covenant reaches the house of Cornelius, an uncircumcised Gentile (Acts 10) A covenant outsider with no access to Israel's Law or identity markers.
The Lord's chosen method of New Covenant administration inverts in Acts 10 it's: Hear the gospel > Believe > Receiving the Holy Spirit & THEN water baptism. The Spirit falls before water, proving Gentiles are included apart from Israel's covenant requirements.
Scripture repeatedly shows the Acts 10 order as the Lord's ongoing pattern: Faith > Spirit > Water. Scripture never once repeats the Acts 2 sequence for Gentiles. Pentecost is a one‑time, Israel‑specific administration, not the universal formula
Your mistake is treating the Pentecost administration as the universal salvation formula. But that is not how the Lord chose to implement the New Covenant across groups.
Acts 2 is Israel’s administration. Acts 10 is Gentile administration.
The distinction was made by the Lord Himself. Not Peter, not tradition & not us.