Why did the apostles not adhere strictly to the instructions of the Lord concerning water baptism?

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The Gospel of Matthew concludes with a pivotal instruction from Jesus to his apostles, recorded in Matthew 28:19, where they are mandated to perform water baptism “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” This explicit Trinitarian formula has historically served as a foundational precept for Christian initiation rites. However, a significant textual and theological point of inquiry arises when comparing this directive with the subsequent practices depicted in the Acts of the Apostles. Throughout the narrative of Acts, instances of baptism consistently portray the early church administering the sacrament “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 2:38), “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:16), or simply “into the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5). This prevalent Christocentric formula in Acts presents an apparent divergence from the comprehensive Trinitarian injunction issued by Christ in Matthew. The observation of this discrepancy compels scholarly inquiry into the precise nature of apostolic adherence to divine commands. The central interpretive challenge therefore revolves around understanding the rationale behind this perceived non-conformity. Given the direct, post-resurrection authority of Jesus’s commission in Matthew, one might reasonably anticipate a scrupulous and literal application of his instructions by his immediate followers. The consistent use of a different, albeit related, formula in the earliest stages of the church’s expansion, as chronicled in Acts, thus demands careful exegetical and theological investigation. Scholars and theologians have long grappled with reconciling these passages. Lines of inquiry typically explore whether the Acts passages represent a shorthand or summary of the full Trinitarian formula, a specific theological emphasis on the authority of Jesus in the early Christian kerygma, or a distinct developmental stage in the understanding and articulation of baptismal theology. The resolution of this interpretive dilemma holds considerable significance for doctrines concerning the Trinity, the authority of scripture, and the historical development of early Christian practice. Thus, the apparent textual divergence regarding the baptismal formula remains a persistent area of scholarly debate, necessitating nuanced hermeneutical engagement to harmonize these crucial biblical accounts.