The Greek word for baptize is ‘baptizo.’ This word was used by Plato (fourth century B.C.) to describe a man being ‘overwhelmed’ by philosophical arguments; or it means sponges being ‘dipped’ in fluid; and by Strabo (first century B.C.) to describe people who could not swim as being ‘submerged’ under water. Josephus in the first century A.D. used the word to describe the city of Jerusalem as being ‘overwhelmed’ or ‘plunged’ into destruction by the Romans; and Plutarch (also first century A.D.) used this word to refer to a person being ‘immersed’ in the sea. In the Septuagint (the Greek version of the O.T.), ‘baptizo’ is used to describe Naaman dipping himself in the Jordan River (2 Ki. 5:14). From classical Greek right down to New Testament Greek, the same basic meaning has been retained: ‘To immerse, submerge, dip or plunge.’ Jesus is stating that the disciples will indeed be plunged into the same sufferings that He will experience.