Acts 8 17

Acts 8:17 kjv

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:17 nkjv

Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:17 niv

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:17 esv

Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:17 nlt

Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8 verses

Acts 8 17 Meaning

Acts 8:17 describes the crucial moment when the apostles Peter and John, having arrived in Samaria, laid their hands on the newly baptized Samaritan believers, resulting in these believers receiving the Holy Spirit. This event signifies the apostolic authentication and inclusion of the Samaritan converts into the broader Christian Church, bridging the divide between Jewish and Samaritan faith under the new covenant. It demonstrates a distinct impartation of the Spirit subsequent to initial belief and water baptism.

Acts 8 17 Context

Acts chapter 8 follows Philip's successful evangelistic ministry in Samaria, where many Samaritans believed Philip's preaching about Christ, saw miracles, and were subsequently baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:5-13). Despite their faith and water baptism, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit in the tangible, powerful way seen at Pentecost. Upon hearing this, the apostles in Jerusalem, specifically Peter and John, came to Samaria. Their visit was crucial for apostolic oversight and for unifying the Samaritan converts with the broader body of Christ, particularly with the Jewish believers. Acts 8:17 immediately follows their prayer that the Samaritans might receive the Spirit, setting the stage for the dramatic display of divine power and confirming their inclusion within the burgeoning Church. Historically, there was significant animosity and theological division between Jews and Samaritans, making this spiritual unification by the Holy Spirit a profound moment for the universal mission of the Gospel.

Acts 8 17 Word analysis

• Then (Tote, Τότε): This temporal adverb signifies that the action described occurred after the Samaritans had believed and been baptized by Philip, and after Peter and John had prayed for them. It denotes a sequential progression of events.
• laid (epethesan, ἐπέθεσαν): This is the aorist active indicative of epitithemi (ἐπιτίθημι), meaning "to place upon" or "to lay on." In the context of "hands," it implies an intentional physical act for spiritual purposes, conveying authority, blessing, or impartation.
• they (implied): Refers to the apostles Peter and John, as indicated by the preceding verse (Acts 8:14). Their apostolic authority was key to this specific impartation.
• their hands (tas cheiras, τὰς χεῖρας): The laying on of hands was a common biblical practice in both Old and New Testaments. It symbolized dedication, commissioning, healing, blessing, and in the New Testament, often the impartation of spiritual gifts or the Holy Spirit. It's a physical act with significant spiritual meaning, demonstrating a connection or transfer.
• on them (ep' autous, ἐπ' αὐτούς): Refers to the Samaritan believers who had already accepted the Word and been water baptized.
• and they received (elambanon, ἐλάμβανον): This is the imperfect active indicative of lambano (λαμβάνω), which means "to take," "to grasp," or "to receive." The imperfect tense here suggests a completed action in the past (they did receive), or possibly emphasizes the immediacy and tangible nature of the reception, potentially accompanied by outward manifestations like speaking in tongues or prophecy, though not explicitly stated in this verse. The fact that Simon the sorcerer "saw" the Spirit being given implies observable evidence.
• the Holy Ghost (to Pneuma to Hagion, τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον): Refers to the Third Person of the Trinity, the Divine Spirit. This reception was not merely an inner spiritual experience but an evident, powerful endowment. In the context of Acts, this typically implied observable manifestations, signifying the divine presence and power among them, thereby authenticating their inclusion into the body of Christ.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then laid they their hands on them": This phrase highlights the intentional, active role of the apostles Peter and John. The laying on of hands was not a mere formality but an apostolic action vital for this specific Spirit reception. It underscored the unity of the church, ensuring these Samaritan believers were clearly connected to and recognized by the apostolic leadership centered in Jerusalem. This was crucial for validating the work in Samaria and preventing potential schisms between Jewish and Samaritan believers in the nascent Christian movement.
• "and they received the Holy Ghost": This part emphasizes the divine response and the reality of the spiritual impartation. The "receiving" of the Holy Ghost here denotes a tangible, powerful anointing and presence of the Spirit, which manifested overtly (as implied by Simon's desire to replicate the effect). It signifies that these believers, while saved and baptized, had now experienced the specific New Testament empowerment for witness and spiritual vitality, akin to the disciples at Pentecost.

Acts 8 17 Bonus section

The Samarian narrative in Acts 8 is crucial for understanding the transition and expansion of the early Church as outlined in Acts 1:8. It bridges the gap between Jewish converts in Jerusalem and the later Gentile converts (like Cornelius). The particular sequence in Samaria, where water baptism preceded the manifest reception of the Holy Spirit, which in turn required apostolic intervention, is often contrasted with other instances in Acts where the Spirit was received differently (e.g., prior to baptism for Cornelius, or concurrently for many at Pentecost). This suggests that while receiving the Spirit is essential for salvation and life in Christ, the manifest timing and manner of the Spirit's full outpouring can vary according to God's sovereign plan, especially to establish apostolic authority and promote Church unity in specific strategic moments. It demonstrates that the work of Christ transcended all previous socio-religious barriers.

Acts 8 17 Commentary

Acts 8:17 is a pivotal verse illustrating a significant dimension of the early Church's experience with the Holy Spirit. The sequence of events – believing the Gospel, water baptism by Philip, and then Spirit reception via apostolic hands – often sparks discussion. This delay in receiving the Holy Spirit for the Samaritans was unique, likely serving a strategic theological purpose: to affirm the unity of the new Church across the deep historical divide between Jews and Samaritans. God ensured that the Spirit's reception among Samaritans was authenticated by the Jerusalem apostles (Peter and John), demonstrating that salvation and the Spirit were available beyond traditional Jewish boundaries and that all believers, regardless of their background, were part of one Body. This event safeguarded against fragmentation and confirmed the universality of the Gospel under the oversight of Christ's chosen emissaries, ensuring the new believers were visibly joined to the foundational apostolic testimony.