But why did I want to mention this, let your Charity pay attention. It was necessary that God should first show Himself working through men, but then through Himself, so that men would not think, as Simon did, that it was of men, not of God. Although the disciples already knew this. For one hundred and twenty men were gathered, when the Holy Spirit came upon them without the laying on of any hands. For who had laid hands on them then? And yet He came, and filled the first. After the scandal of Simon, what did God do? See the teacher, not by words, but by deeds. The same Philip who had baptized men, and the Holy Spirit had not come upon them until the Apostles had come and laid hands on them, baptized the eunuch, that is, a certain eunuch of Queen Candace, who had worshipped in Jerusalem and was returning, reading the prophet Isaiah in his chariot and not understanding. Philip, having been advised, approached the chariot, explained the reading, instructed in faith, and evangelized Christ. The eunuch believed in Christ, and when they came to some water, he said: Behold water, what prevents me from being baptized? Philip said to him: If you believe in Jesus Christ? He answered: I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. Immediately he went down into the water with him. The mystery and sacrament of Baptism having been completed, so that the gift of the Holy Spirit would not be thought to be of men, it was not waited for, as then, for the Apostles to come, but the Holy Spirit came immediately. Simon’s thought was dissolved, so that he would not have imitators in such thinking.
Another example in the centurion Cornelius.
Then another more marvelous example. Peter came to the centurion Cornelius, to an uncircumcised Gentile: he began to preach Christ Jesus to him, and to those who were with him. While Peter was still speaking, I do not say, not yet laying on hands, but not even yet baptizing, and while those who were with Peter were doubting whether the uncircumcised should be baptized (for there had arisen among the Jews who had believed, and those who had become faithful from the Gentiles, a scandal, that is, the Jews and Christians, who were baptized uncircumcised); so that God might remove this question, while Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came, filled Cornelius, filled those who were with him. And by this very attestation of a great matter, it was as if it were shouted to Peter: Why do you doubt about the water? I am already here.
The cleansing in Baptism is not due to the merits of the ministers, but from the grace of God.
Therefore let any soul be secure, being liberated by the Lord's grace from much wickedness, as if cleansed from unclean prostitution in the Church. Let her believe, let her approach the Lord's feet, let her seek the footsteps of the Lord, let her confess, shedding tears, let her wipe with her hair. The Lord's feet are the preachers of the Gospel. The woman's hair, excessive possessions. Let her wipe with her hair, let her wipe thoroughly, let her work mercy: and when she has wiped, let her kiss; let her receive peace, so she may have charity. She approached such a one, she was baptized by such a one, like the apostle Paul: let her hear from him: Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. But she was baptized by someone else seeking their own, not those of Jesus Christ: let her hear from the Lord: Do what they say, but do not do what they do. Let her be secure in that, whether she encounters a good evangelist, or one who does not do what he says. For from the Lord she securely hears: Go, woman; your faith has saved you.