Week 4, Day 1: Philip Baptizes the Ethiopian Eunuch

As I read González’s treatment of Acts 8:26—40 this week, I was struck by how odd his view of baptism sounded in this passage. Of course his view that “baptism is the act of incorporation into the people of God that is the church” is good reformed theology (Methodist, Lutheran, Presbeterian, etc.), but it seems ill-fitted to the context here. The text does not mention a congregation. It says nothing directly or indirectly about the wider Church. It mentions no one other than Philip, the eunuch, and the Holy Spirit. In this context, what meaning of baptism is implied?