I thank God that I baptized none of you
The Alexandrian copy and the Syriac version read, "I thank my
God"; not that the apostle disliked the ordinance of baptism, or
the administration of it; and much less that he thought it
criminal, or an evil in him to perform it; nor was he at any time
displeased at the numbers of persons who desired it of him; but
on the contrary rejoiced where proper subjects of it were brought
to a submission to it; but inasmuch as some persons in the church
at Corinth made such an ill use of his having baptized them, he
was greatly thankful that it was so ordered in providence, that
the far greater part of them were baptized by other ministers,
either by those who were with him, or came after him; and that he
baptized none of them with his own hands,
but Crispus and Gaius.
The former of these was the chief ruler of the Jewish synagogue
at Corinth, who hearing the apostle, and believing in Christ, was
baptized by him, ( Acts 18:8 ) and the
latter was a very liberal and hospitable man, and was the
apostle's host, whilst he was at Corinth; see ( Romans 16:23
) .