Where Was Matthew?
Judging from the controversy over which is the correct Biblical mode of water baptism, i.e., whether we should follow Matt. 28:19 or Acts 2:38, one might believe that Matthew was a careless individual, one not quite as mentally alert as some of the other Apostles or absolutely absent on the Day of Pentecost when Peter declared that water baptism should be administered in the Name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins. Nothing was mentioned on the Day of Pentecost of baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, nor any day, time or place after that, in the entire New Testament wherever water baptism was administered. Why? Where was Matthew??? Would he not defend his own writings,? Let’s look at the facts I
1. Who was this Gospel writer Matthew?
Matthew, whose name was Levi until he became an apostle of Jesus, was a publican who lived at Capernaum of Galilee.
2. What were his business duties?
He was a tax collector. He probably had charge of the custom house there.
3. Did this position require a man of ability and accuracy?
Yes, as he handled custom receipts and taxes collected for the Roman government on the great Damascus Highway between Damascus and the Mediterranean Seaports. He was evidently a brilliant man and of accurate detail.
4. How does his Gospel compare with the other three?
It is so thorough and complete that it is often referred to as the Bible in miniature.
5. Why is this statement made?
Because of Matthew’s attribute of exactness, accuracy and painstaking patience to be satisfied with nothing but the complete facts. His Gospel traces the genealogy of Jesus back through the kings to David and even to the beginning to the Hebrew race, to Abraham, proving the right of Kingship of Jesus. He records details of His birth, His baptism at Jordan, His temptation, the sermon on the mount, as well as an excellent record of other sermons, Christ’s giving the keys to PETER, the transfiguration, the passover, over, Christ in the garden, the betrayal, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. It seems that he overlooked nothing of importance. We owe much to the painstaking detailed minded, accurate and patient Matthew.
6. Was Matthew included in the group of Apostles and disciples that tarried in the upper* room for the baptism of the Holy Ghost?
Yes. Matthew and Peter were included with the one hundred and twenty. Acts 1:13
7. Did Matthew receive the Holy Ghost and speak in other tongues on the Day of Pentecost, the same as Peter and the other Apostles?
Yes. He was present and stood up with the other eleven Apostles when Peter began to defend this glorious Pentecostal experience of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:4
8. Does it seem possible that Matthew would permit Peter to make a mistake on such an important question as water baptism on the Day of Pentecost when so many souls were honestly questioning how to be saved? (Three thousand were baptized that day in the Name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:37-42.)
NO! If Peter had been wrong, Matthew would have been the first to stop him, but please remember that Matthew had just received the Holy Ghost the same as Peter and the other one hundred and twenty disciples. They understood clearly for the first time that Jesus was the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. If Peter’s words were wrong why did Matthew keep silent? One of the greatest proofs that Peter was right is the fact that Matthew stood right by him in approving silence, sanctioning every word that was spoken in that wonderful second chapter of Acts which records Peter’s sermon.
9. What other reasons do you have to prove that Matthew believed and practiced that water baptism should be valid only in and through the Name of Jesus Christ?
All the Apostles present, without a doubt, helped Peter baptize those three thousand souls. Matthew baptized many on that day in the precious Name of Jesus, and futhermore, not only he but all the Apostles continued to baptize in the Name of Jesus Christ. Please note the fortysecond verse of this second chapter of Acts…”And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship.” Peter’s doctrine of water baptism became the Apostles’ doctrine of water baptism. Please see Acts 8:16 and Acts 19:5,6.
10. why was Peter the spokesman for the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost? -(Acts 2:4)
Because Jesus had given Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
11. What Gospel writer states the Peter alone had the keys?
The record is found in Matthew’s Gospel. Chapter 16:13-20.
12. Is there any record in the Bible of anyone ever being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?
NO! No one in the Bible was ever baptized that way.
13. Why did Jesus tell Matthew to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?
Jesus spoke of water baptism on several occasions during His earthly ministry. Matthew 29:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:45-48 and John 3:5. This was preceding His ascension and the giving of the Holy Ghost to His followers. Not one disciple received the Holy Spirit until the Day of Pentecost. John 7:38,39; Acts 1:4,5. The Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record the ministry of Jesus. He spoke in parables or simple stories and used illustrations that they might understand. He used terms of relationship, such as rather — Son — Holy Ghost, because their hearts had not been filled with His Spirit. But at Pentecost, they all understood, including Matthew, that Jesus fulfilled all the mystery of the Godhead. The Apostles agreed with Peter that Jesus was both Lord and Christ. On that day — the Day of Pentecost -the Apostles realized in a greater measure than ever before that Jesus was the mighty God, the everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. Therefore they baptized in His Name — that wonderful Name … Lord Jesus I
14. Did Matthew believe in the so-called doctrine of “trinity?”
No! If he had, he most certainly would have stopped Peter from baptizing in the Name of Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecostand would never have written Matthew 1:23, that Jesus should be called Emmanuel, or, GOD WITH US!
15. What is the conclusion of the matter on water baptism?
That there is “One Lord, one faith, and one baptism.” Ephesians 4:5. That, “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 1:12. That no one, between the lids of the Bible, was ever baptized In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
That Matthew was present on the Day of Pentecost.
That Matthew was not a careless individual, but one of the finest, clearest thinking, most accurate and detail-minded of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus, who above all others could have questioned Peter on the Day of Pentecost when be commanded all to be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, but by his approving silence, and his assistance to Peter along with the other Apostles in baptizing those three thousand souls, and by (not only Matthew but all the Apostles) continuing steadfastly in that Pentecostal doctrine, proves without a shadow of a doubt that water baptism for remission of sins can only be administered in the Name of Jesus Christ or Lord Jesus.
