Acts 8 18

Acts 8:18 kjv

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Acts 8:18 nkjv

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

Acts 8:18 niv

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money

Acts 8:18 esv

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

Acts 8:18 nlt

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.

Acts 8 verses

Acts 8 18 Meaning

When Simon witnessed that the apostles, through the physical act of laying their hands on the new believers, were successfully imparting the Holy Spirit in a visibly manifest way, his immediate response was to offer them money. He perceived this spiritual power as a tangible commodity or a skill that could be purchased, similar to the magic he had previously practiced.

Acts 8 18 Context

Acts chapter 8 describes the spread of the Gospel following the persecution in Jerusalem. Philip the evangelist preaches Christ in Samaria, where many, including a renowned sorcerer named Simon, believe and are baptized. Simon, who had previously astounded people with his magical practices, professed belief in Christ. However, it seems his belief was superficial, likely more about the power displayed by Philip than true repentance. The apostles in Jerusalem, hearing of the Samaritan conversions, send Peter and John to Samaria to affirm the new believers and ensure their connection to the wider apostolic church. Upon their arrival, Peter and John lay hands on the Samaritans, and they receive the Holy Spirit, accompanied by observable manifestations. It is in this context, witnessing this extraordinary divine activity mediated by the apostles, that Simon's true motives are exposed.

Acts 8 18 Word analysis

• And when Simon saw (ἰδών δὲ ὁ Σίμων - idōn de ho Simōn): Simon's perception was sensory. Ἰδών (idōn) implies an observation of external signs, indicating his focus on the visible manifestations of the Holy Spirit's reception rather than on its internal spiritual reality. He saw the effect, not the grace behind it.
• that through (διὰ - dia): This preposition signifies the instrument or means by which the Holy Spirit was given. It highlights the direct action of the apostles.
• the laying on (τῆς ἐπιθέσεως - tēs epitheseōs): Ἐπίθεσις (epíthesis) means 'a placing upon,' referring to the symbolic act of placing hands on someone. This gesture in the Bible signifies blessing, consecration, healing, or the imparting of a gift, always with a divine source.
• of the apostles' hands (τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων - tōn cheirōn tōn apostolōn): Emphasizes the specific role and authority of the apostles in mediating this distinct reception of the Spirit in the early church, distinct from Philip's ministry of evangelism and baptism. The act itself was symbolic, with God as the giver.
• the Holy Spirit was given (ἐδίδετο τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον - edideto to Pneuma to Hagion): Ἐδίδετο (edídetō) is in the imperfect tense, suggesting an ongoing process, implying Simon witnessed the Holy Spirit repeatedly being given as the apostles laid hands on different groups of Samaritans. This highlights the sovereign nature of the Spirit's reception; it is given by God.
• he offered (προσήνεγκεν - prosēnenken): Προσήνεγκεν (prosḗnenken) means 'he brought forward' or 'he offered.' The action is deliberate and implies a proposition, in this case, a transactional exchange.
• them money (αὐτοῖς χρήματα - autois chrḗmata): Χρήματα (chrḗmata) refers to money or possessions. This reveals Simon's fundamental misunderstanding: he believed divine power could be a commodity to be purchased.

Acts 8 18 Bonus section

The narrative of Simon Magus in Acts 8 highlights a crucial distinction within the early church context: while anyone can genuinely believe in Jesus and be baptized by human ministers like Philip, the visible reception and impartation of the Holy Spirit were often associated with the direct intervention or authentication by the apostles in significant transitional moments for the spreading Church. This served to connect new converts in diverse regions directly to the unified, Jerusalem-rooted apostolic witness. Simon's misstep further clarifies that genuine belief extends beyond acknowledging God's power; it demands a repentant heart, submission to Christ, and understanding that divine grace is unmerited and cannot be purchased or earned. His desire to acquire the "ability" to impart the Spirit, rather than the Spirit Himself, reveals his persistent focus on power and performance over true spiritual transformation and fellowship with God.

Acts 8 18 Commentary

Acts 8:18 exposes the dangerous perversion of spiritual reality when viewed through the lens of human gain and power. Simon Magus, deeply rooted in a world of sorcery where power could be acquired or manipulated, mistakenly applied this worldly paradigm to the divine economy of the Holy Spirit. He observed the visible effects of the Spirit being given through the apostles' hands, probably witnessing speaking in tongues or prophecy, and craved this ability for himself, not for glorifying God, but for personal prestige and power. His offer of money was a profound insult to the Holy Spirit and a severe misunderstanding of grace. God's gifts, especially the Holy Spirit, are freely given by divine will and received through faith and repentance; they cannot be bought, sold, or controlled by human enterprise. This incident gave rise to the term "simony," representing the grave sin of attempting to buy or sell spiritual offices, gifts, or sacraments, a concept historically condemned within the Church. It vividly teaches that genuine spiritual power is divinely sourced and sovereignly distributed, beyond any commercial transaction or human manipulation.