Before baptism is repentance (Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins..." Acts 2:38), and true repentance requires a heart of flesh, not stone. God's replacing of one's heart of stone with a heart of flesh is what regeneration is, is it not?

So it comes first, then repentance, then baptism.

Just like it says in Acts. ;->

Anne