Bible Strands
Acts 8:15
On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter and John arrive in Samaria after the Jerusalem apostles report that Samaritans have received God’s word. They pray on behalf of the newly baptized believers who have not yet received the Holy Spirit.
The words — The text uses προσηύξαντο (prosēuxanto), literally “they prayed,” and λάβωσιν (labōsin), meaning “they may receive.” These verbs frame the apostles’ intercession and the believers’ anticipated reception.
The thread — This intercession parallels Peter’s earlier instruction in Acts 2:38 regarding repentance and baptism. It also aligns with Jesus’ teaching that believers will ask the Father in His name (John 16:23) and the principle of agreed prayer in Matthew 18:19.
Why it lands — The verse requires recognizing that prayer precedes divine action and that the apostles actively intercede for others’ spiritual reception. It calls the reader to participate in intercessory prayer rather than assuming spiritual outcomes occur without divine mediation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Cross-references
- Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- John 16:23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
- Matthew 18:19 Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
- John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
- Philippians 1:19 because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.