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

The believers from Judaism in Judea heard that Samaria had received the word of God. They sent Peter and John, who went down and prayed for the new Samaritan believers. Their purpose was for them to receive the Holy Spirit. This verse highlights the communal nature of early Christianity and the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit, which was a sign of full inclusion.

Acts 8 15 Context

This chapter follows the scattering of believers from Jerusalem due to persecution after Stephen's martyrdom. Philip, one of the seven deacons, had gone to Samaria and preached Christ to them, resulting in many conversions and baptisms. However, these new Samaritan believers had not yet received the Holy Spirit. This was significant because the baptism of the Holy Spirit, often accompanied by visible signs, was understood in the early church as a mark of inclusion and full membership, especially for those coming from outside traditional Jewish circles. The leaders in Jerusalem, upon hearing this, acted by sending Peter and John to confirm the new ministry and to minister the Spirit to them, thereby bridging any potential gap between Jewish and Samaritan believers.

Acts 8 15 Word Analysis

• ἐπεὶ (epei): "since" or "when." This conjunction introduces the reason or the circumstances under which the action of the apostles occurred.
• ἠκούσαμεν (ēkousamen): "we heard." First-person plural past active indicative of ἀκούω (akouō), meaning to hear, to listen, to obey. It indicates a reception of information from others.
• ὅτι (hoti): "that." A conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, indicating what was heard.
• λαλήθη (lalēthē): "had spoken." Third-person singular aorist passive subjunctive of λαλέω (lalēō), meaning to speak or to talk. Passive voice implies that the Word of God was the object being spoken. The subjunctive mood suggests a potentiality or a consequence of hearing.
• τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ (ton logon tou theou): "the word of God." Literally "the word of the God."
  • λόγον (logon): accusative singular of λόγος (logos). This refers to spoken or written word, message, or speech. Here it signifies the gospel message, the teaching of Christ.
  • τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou): genitive singular of θεός (theos), meaning "of God." It emphasizes the divine origin of the message.
• κατέβησαν (katebēsan): "they went down." Third-person plural aorist active indicative of καταβαίνω (katabainō), meaning to descend, to go down. Samaria was at a higher elevation than Jerusalem, so from Jerusalem's perspective, they went down.
• Πέτρος (Petros): "Peter." Proper noun, the name given to Simon by Jesus.
• Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs): "John." Proper noun, the son of Zebedee.
• ἵνα (hina): "that." A conjunction introducing a purpose clause.
• καὶ αὐτοὶ (kai autoi): "they also." Emphatic pronoun, stressing that Peter and John, in addition to the Father and Son, were involved in the mission of imparting the Spirit.
• ἀποκρίση (apokrisē): "pray." First-person plural aorist passive subjunctive of ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai) when referring to prayer (this seems to be an interpretation or variant usage). The more direct interpretation, aligning with common usage in this context, would be that they went down to pray. Some interpretations lean towards "to answer" or "to reply," but in the context of impartation, praying for them is the consistent theological understanding and historical practice.
• κατ' εὐχήν (kat' eukhēn): "that they might pray." A prepositional phrase.
  • κατά (kata): "according to," "in accordance with."
  • εὐχήν (eukhen): accusative singular of εὐχή (euchē), meaning a prayer, a vow, a wish. Here it implies the act of praying.
• εἰσέρχηται (eisérchētai): "enter in" or "come upon." Third-person singular aorist middle subjunctive of εἰσέρχομαι (eiserchomai), meaning to go into, to enter. Here, referring to the reception of the Holy Spirit.
• τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον (to Pneuma to Hagion): "the Holy Spirit."
  • τὸ Πνεῦμα (to Pneuma): nominative singular of πνεῦμα (pneuma), meaning spirit, breath, wind. Refers to the third person of the Trinity.
  • τὸ Ἅγιον (to Hagion): nominative singular neuter of ἅγιος (hagios), meaning holy, sacred, pure. Describes the nature of the Spirit.

Words Group Analysis

• "we heard that the word of God had been spoken": This phrase implies the primary source of information was an external report about a significant spiritual event: the reception of God's word by the Samaritans. The "speaking of the word" signifies the evangelistic success and acceptance of the Gospel.
• "they went down, Peter and John": The downward movement signifies travel from Jerusalem to Samaria. The specific naming of Peter and John indicates their apostolic authority and their role as emissaries from the Jerusalem church.
• "that they might pray for them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit": This clearly states the purpose of Peter and John's journey. It establishes prayer as the means, and the reception of the Holy Spirit as the divine outcome. The "reception" here implies not just the initial dwelling of the Spirit at conversion (as in verse 5), but a fuller empowerment and gifting, likely marked by external manifestations.

Acts 8 15 Bonus Section

The historical context of Samaritan-Jewish relations was fraught with tension, stemming from religious and ethnic differences dating back to the Old Testament period. Samaritans claimed to worship the God of Israel but adhered to their own version of the Pentateuch and worshipped at Mount Gerizim. This made them estranged from the Jerusalem Temple and Jewish tradition. The inclusion of Samaritans, therefore, was a significant step in fulfilling Christ's Great Commission (Acts 1:8) to be witnesses "in Samaria." The role of Peter and John, prominent apostles from the Jewish contingent, in bringing the Spirit to Samaritans parallels Peter's earlier experience with Cornelius (Acts 10-11), suggesting a pattern where the Holy Spirit's empowerment validated new inclusive outreaches of the Gospel. Some scholars note the theological significance of the apostles laying on hands, a practice that echoes Old Testament rituals for bestowing blessing or authority, and that appears in early Christian tradition for imparting spiritual gifts or leadership. This specific act in Acts 8 was vital in preventing a theological schism by showing that God's Spirit was for both Jew and Samaritan, united in Christ.

Acts 8 15 Commentary

This verse describes a crucial moment in the early expansion of the church, extending its reach into Samaritan territory. The Jewish believers in Jerusalem, upon hearing of the successful ministry of Philip in Samaria, demonstrated a proper apostolic concern and communal oversight. The sending of Peter and John was not merely to confirm, but to ensure that these new Samaritan believers experienced the fullness of the Spirit. This act underscores the unity of the early church, breaking down significant social and ethnic barriers (Samaritans were viewed with deep suspicion by many Jews). The specific prayer for the Holy Spirit implies that its impartation was understood as a distinct, though connected, event following baptism, serving as a seal of acceptance and empowering. This was particularly important to authenticate the Gospel's reception by this new group, assuring the Jerusalem church of God's work among them. The passive voice for the "word of God" being spoken indicates the objective reality of the Gospel being preached and received, and the active sending of apostles and their prayer for the impartation of the Spirit shows the church's participatory role in God's plan.