Acts 8 15

Acts 8:15 kjv

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Acts 8:15 nkjv

who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:15 niv

When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

Acts 8:15 esv

who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

Acts 8:15 nlt

As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8 verses

Acts 8 15 Meaning

Acts 8:15 describes the action of the apostles Peter and John, who had journeyed to Samaria from Jerusalem. Upon their arrival, they earnestly prayed for the newly baptized Samaritan believers that these disciples might then receive the Holy Spirit. This event signifies a specific phase in the early church's expansion, demonstrating both apostolic oversight and the particular circumstances under which the Spirit was imparted to the Samaritan community, distinct from their prior water baptism by Philip.

Acts 8 15 Context

This verse is part of the narrative following Stephen's martyrdom and the subsequent persecution of Christians in Jerusalem, which led many to disperse. Philip, one of the seven deacons, went to Samaria and proclaimed Christ. His ministry was powerfully effective, accompanied by miracles, exorcisms, and many conversions and water baptisms among the Samaritans (Acts 8:4-13). This rapid success, particularly among Samaritans—a group traditionally antagonistic towards Jews (Jn 4:9)—was significant.

However, after these baptisms, the Samaritans had not yet visibly received the Holy Spirit in the same powerful, experiential way witnessed at Pentecost (Acts 2). The apostles in Jerusalem, hearing of the revival in Samaria, recognized the need for direct apostolic involvement to solidify this new community's connection to the broader church. Thus, Peter and John were dispatched. Their arrival and prayer in Acts 8:15, followed by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17), led to the visible reception of the Holy Spirit. This intervention served to unify the Samaritans with the main body of Jewish believers in Jerusalem, preventing the rise of an independent, separate Samaritan Christian movement, and confirming the universal nature of the Christian message through apostolic authority. It also potentially offered discernment in the wake of Simon the Sorcerer's influence (Acts 8:9-13, 18-24).

Acts 8 15 Word analysis

• who (οἵ - hoi): Refers to Peter and John, highlighting their authoritative role as apostles. This emphasizes apostolic delegation and approval for the Spirit's outpouring in this new context.
• when they had come down (κατέβησαν - katebēsan): From the verb καταβαίνω (katabainō), meaning "to come down" or "descend." This is a physical description of their journey from Jerusalem (which is at a higher elevation) to Samaria. Spiritually, it underscores the movement of the gospel and divine action from the center (Jerusalem) to the periphery.
• prayed (προσηύξαντο - prosēuxanto): Aorist middle indicative, from προσεύχομαι (proseuchomai), meaning "they prayed to/for themselves/others." This highlights intentional, earnest communication with God. Prayer is a crucial act of intercession, acknowledging that the Holy Spirit is a gift from God, not something conferred purely by human will or ritual. (Lk 11:13).
• for them (περὶ αὐτῶν - peri autōn): "Concerning them," or "on their behalf." Specifies the beneficiaries of the prayer: the newly converted Samaritan believers who had already been baptized by Philip.
• that they might receive (ἵνα λάβωσιν - hina labōsin): The conjunction ἵνα (hina) introduces a purpose clause: "in order that they might receive." Λάβωσιν (labōsin) is from λαμβάνω (lambanō), "to take, receive, obtain." It's in the aorist subjunctive, denoting a desired or anticipated action. This explicitly states the purpose of Peter and John's prayer—for the Samaritans to obtain the Holy Spirit. The terminology signifies a definite appropriation or acquisition of the Spirit, not merely a subjective feeling.
• the Holy Spirit (Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον - Pneuma Hagion): The distinct person of the Trinity, God's divine presence and power given to believers. Its reception marks full Christian initiation and empowerment for service (Acts 1:8). The specific focus here implies an evidential, discernible reception, perhaps similar to that at Pentecost (Acts 2) or Caesarea (Acts 10). The phrase denotes a supernatural experience beyond the mere mental assent of belief.

Words-group analysis:

• who, when they had come down, prayed for them: This sequence of action emphasizes the apostles' direct involvement. Their physical presence and intercession were deemed necessary by the early church leadership. This points to the structured, Spirit-guided leadership that was foundational for the early expansion of the church.
• that they might receive the Holy Spirit: This phrase outlines the critical missing element in the Samaritans' Christian experience post-baptism by Philip. It suggests a distinction between water baptism and the immediate reception of the Holy Spirit in all circumstances, demonstrating God's sovereign timing and the need for apostolic confirmation in this specific context. This passage has led to much theological discussion about the sequence of Spirit reception and water baptism, often understood as a unique historical arrangement for the consolidation of the church.

Acts 8 15 Bonus section

The phenomenon described in Acts 8:15 (and subsequent Acts 8:17) where the Holy Spirit is received after water baptism, and through the prayer and laying on of hands by apostles, is often termed "the Samarian Pentecost." This is distinct from Pentecost itself (Acts 2) where the Spirit preceded any baptism, and from the Cornelius episode (Acts 10) where the Spirit also fell before water baptism. This variance highlights that while God is sovereign in giving His Spirit, the mode and timing could differ based on unique historical and theological requirements for the growth and unity of the early church. The apostolic involvement here underscores a critical phase in breaking down geographical and ethnic barriers (Jewish-Samaritan animosity), signifying that the new Christian identity transcended old divisions. This verse, therefore, does not establish a universal two-stage process for salvation or Spirit reception, but rather illustrates a foundational moment in the Spirit-led establishment of the global church.

Acts 8 15 Commentary

Acts 8:15 provides a unique glimpse into the dynamic process of the Holy Spirit's reception in the nascent church. In Samaria, while Philip's evangelism and water baptisms were evidently powerful and authentic expressions of faith, a distinct outpouring of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by recognizable manifestations, had not yet occurred. The arrival and intercessory prayer of Peter and John were crucial for this stage.

This event is not necessarily a normative pattern for all Spirit reception; rather, it's a specific instance addressing the complex relationship between Jewish and Samaritan believers. The delayed, apostolically mediated reception served several critical purposes: it validated the Samaritan conversions by linking them to the Jerusalem apostles (preventing an independent "Samaritan Christianity"), affirmed the unity of the new Christian body, and distinguished true conversion from the superficial effects of magic (Simon the Sorcerer). It emphasizes that while salvation and water baptism are vital, the empowering and unifying presence of the Holy Spirit often comes in discernible ways, sometimes involving prayer and the laying on of hands by designated leadership within the church, demonstrating divine order and apostolic authority in the expansion of the gospel. The ultimate source of the Spirit, however, remains God the Father (Lk 11:13) and Christ (Jn 14:16).

• Practical usage example: The necessity of prayer for the spiritual strengthening and empowerment of new believers. The importance of leadership (spiritual authority) in discerning and guiding the spiritual journey of congregations, particularly in new mission fields.