Bible Strands
Acts 8:17
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter and John lay hands on newly baptized Samaritans at the specific moment when the Holy Spirit has not yet fallen upon them. This occurs immediately after they confirm the Samaritans have believed and been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The words — The Greek ἐπετίθεσαν (epetithesan) literally means "they were laying" or "placing," describing the physical act of positioning hands upon them (αὐτούς, autous). The verb ἐλαμβάνον (elambanon) indicates they "were receiving" the Spirit, emphasizing the ongoing or completed reception of the gift.
The thread — This apostolic hand-laying pattern appears when the seven are commissioned in Acts 6:6, when Paul ministers in Ephesus in Acts 19:6, and when Paul recalls Timothy’s spiritual gift in 2 Timothy 1:6.
Why it lands — The text records that the apostles’ physical mediation preceded the Samaritans’ reception of the Spirit, which Simon interprets as a transferable mechanism he attempts to purchase. A reader must recognize this historical boundary between the apostolic foundation and subsequent spiritual distribution without assuming the practice establishes a normative or replicable ordinance.
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
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Cross-references
- Acts 19:6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
- Acts 6:6 They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
- 2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
- Acts 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
- Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
- Numbers 8:10 You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them.
- Numbers 27:18 And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.
- Acts 9:17 So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
- Hebrews 6:2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
- Romans 1:11 For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,