who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

 (ii) Peter calls baptism the pledge of a good conscience to God ( 1 Peter 3:21). The word Peter uses for pledge is eperotema ( G1906) . In every business contract there was a definite question and answer which made the contract binding. The question was: "Do you accept the terms of this contract, and bind yourself to observe them?" And the answer, before witnesses was: "Yes." Without that question and answer the contract was not valid. The technical word for that question and answer clause is eperotema ( G1906) in Greek, stipulatio in Latin. 