bmerr said:GE,
bmerr here. It is true that the word "water" is not found in any of the texts I cited. However, if we keep in mind that the baptism that was to continue until the end of the world (Matt 28:20) is one that is to be adminstered by man, and turn to Acts 8:36-39, we can see that water is what the early church baptized in.
Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Phillip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Phillip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water...
We can also see this in Acts 10:47-48, where Peter, who first commanded baptism in the NT, said,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
It's not necessary to specify in each account that a person hears the word, believes, repents, confesses Christ, and is baptized in water for the remission of sins. I believe the term is "synecdoche", when a part is given for the whole. The other parts are implied, or understood as being present.
Since baptism in water is the only kind that can be administered by man, it's gotta be water.
In Christ,
bmerr
Did the Ethiopian start to believe before Baptism or after Baptism?