**Let’s cut to the chase.**
Absolutely!
While the Son of man was on earth, he was given power to forgive sins. He did that with the man with the palsy, the woman that anointed his feet, and the thief on the cross (there is no mention of sins concerning the thief, but for Jesus Christ to promise him that he would be WITH him in paradise, points to forgiveness for sure).
Before the Christ departed he told disciples that THEY were to REMIT sins.(John 20:23).
He passed the power on to them. He commanded them to baptize. Acts 2:38,41 is the beginning of their remitting of sins.
How about some symbolism? The afore mentioned man with the palsy couldn’t enter in by another way (although preachers teach another ‘way’). So the men carrying him..opened ...up ...a hole... in the roof. They then lowered him down in his cot, not unlike lowering a body into a grave. Who was down there? Jesus. What power was present (besides the power to heal)?
The power to forgive sins.
That is why, as Paul puts it, we are “buried with him by baptism into his death”.
That’s why if you finish the story of the keeper of the prison, you read how he and his household were taught the word (HOW to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ) and in short order were baptized.
That’s why Peter, after seeing and hearing the out pouring of the Holy Ghost on Cornelius and household, followed the Lord’s command immediately by commanding for them to be baptized.
**by commanding for them to be baptized.**
Actually he did not COMMAND anyone. He asked those who came with him...
“Can anyone forbid water that these should not be baptized?” By their filling with the Holy Spirit they showed they were already saved. “And these signs shall follow them that believe...”
Then he had to give an account to James, back in Jerusalem as to why he went to gentiles. “Who was I to withstand GOD?”