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Prestor writes:

Richard in all of those accounts it tells me that those of the household who heard the Word of God believed and because of that belief were baptized. Now I know that "all" doesn't necessarily mean all but contextually I must say that for those households it does. So to me it means that not only the head of the household believed but also those under the head of the household too. All believed and they believed because they heard the Word of God. Therefore my logical conclusion is that it wasn't because the head of the household believed that the wife was baptized. But it was because the wife believed along with the entire household that they were baptized.

Actually not all household baptisms recorded in the Bible tell us who were included nor whether faith was present in all the members of the household. If it were that cut and dried there would be no discussion.

Acts 16:14,15 tells about a certain woman named Lydia who believed. We read that she and her household were baptised, but it doesn't tell us who her family members included nor if they had faith. Also in the story of the Phillippian Jailer which is recorded later in that same chapter we read Paul and Silas's reply to his question about salvation. In verse 31 they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." This statement came before his family had heard the word.

Then in verse 32 we read, "Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house." My point is simply that the promise was given to him before they heard the word. In addition we don't know the ages of the individuals in his household.

In I Corinthians 1 Paul talks about some individuals he baptized and one household. In verse 16 he mentions the household of Stephanas. Yet what do we know about this household. My point is that we don't have a complete picture to support your presupposition.

Throughout redemptive history it has often been God's practice to save entire family units at the same time (Acts 2:38,39; 11:14; 16:31; Gen. 17:7-14). The household baptisms of Acts are striking examples of this (10:47, 48; 16:31-33; cf I Cor. 1:16). Such household baptisms were apparently standard practice.

In as much as these examples tell us God can and does choose to save entire families it leaves a lot unsaid. My concern from a paedobaptist's point of view questions the adult members of these households. I'm sure as a credobaptist you want each individual regardless of age to believe before they are baptized. Regardless the promise is there in these verses prior to the fulfillment.


Wes

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride. - Isaac Watts