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Simon the Sorcerer
…16For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.17ThenPeter and John laidtheirhandsonthem,andthey receivedthe HolySpirit.18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.…

Treasury of Scripture

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

laid.

Acts 8:18
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Acts 6:6
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laidtheir hands on them.

Acts 9:17
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord,even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

they received.

Romans 1:11
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

Galatians 3:2-5
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? …

ApostlesGhostHandsHolyJohnLaidPeterPlacedReceivedReceivingSpiritApostlesGhostHandsHolyJohnLaidPeterPlacedReceivedReceivingSpirit1.By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria,
4.by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;
9.among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;
14.Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church;
15.where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;
18.when Simon would have bought the like power of them,
20.Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness,
22.and exhorting him to repentance,
25.together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;
26.but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch.

Then Peter and John laid their hands on them
This phrase highlights the apostolic authority and the practice of laying on of hands, a significant act in the early church. Peter and John, two of Jesus' closest disciples, were sent from Jerusalem to Samaria to confirm the work that Philip had begun. The laying on of hands is a symbolic gesture used throughout Scripture to confer blessing, authority, or the Holy Spirit (Numbers 27:18-23;1 Timothy 4:14). It signifies the apostles' role in the early church as leaders and their unique authority to impart the Holy Spirit, which was crucial for the unity and growth of the early Christian community. This act also underscores the importance of apostolic endorsement in the spread of the Gospel beyond Jewish boundaries, as Samaritans were considered outsiders by Jews.

and they received the Holy Spirit
The reception of the Holy Spirit is a pivotal moment in the life of a believer and the church. In the context of Acts, this event marks the inclusion of the Samaritans into the body of Christ, fulfilling Jesus' command inActs 1:8 to be witnesses in "Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The Holy Spirit's coming upon the Samaritans demonstrates God's acceptance of all people, breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers. This event parallels the Pentecost experience inActs 2, where the Holy Spirit was first given to the Jewish believers, and foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles inActs 10. Theologically, it emphasizes the necessity of the Holy Spirit for empowerment, guidance, and the assurance of salvation, as seen inRomans 8:9 andEphesians 1:13-14.

1.Peter
One of Jesus' twelve apostles, known for his leadership in the early church and his bold proclamation of the gospel.

2.John
Another of Jesus' apostles, often associated with love and deep spiritual insight, and a close companion of Peter in ministry.

3.Samaritans
The people of Samaria, who had a complex relationship with the Jews, often marked by historical animosity and religious differences.

4.Laying on of Hands
A symbolic act used in the early church to confer blessing, authority, or the Holy Spirit.

5.Receiving the Holy Spirit
A significant event in the life of a believer, marking the indwelling presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.The Role of Apostolic Authority
The involvement of Peter and John underscores the importance of apostolic authority in the early church. This authority was crucial for maintaining doctrinal purity and unity.

Unity in the Body of Christ
The inclusion of the Samaritans in receiving the Holy Spirit demonstrates the breaking down of ethnic and religious barriers, emphasizing the unity of all believers in Christ.

The Holy Spirit's Empowerment
Receiving the Holy Spirit is essential for living a victorious Christian life. Believers are empowered for service, witness, and spiritual growth through the Spirit.

The Significance of Laying on of Hands
This act symbolizes the transmission of spiritual blessing and authority. It serves as a reminder of the tangible ways God works through His people.

The Importance of Community
The communal aspect of receiving the Holy Spirit highlights the importance of fellowship and accountability within the body of Christ.1.What is the meaning of Acts 8:17?

2.How does Acts 8:17 demonstrate the importance of the laying on of hands?

3.What role does the Holy Spirit play in Acts 8:17 for believers today?

4.How can we apply the practice of laying on hands in our church?

5.How does Acts 8:17 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?

6.What can we learn about unity and community from Acts 8:17?

7.What is the significance of laying hands in Acts 8:17 for receiving the Holy Spirit?

8.How does Acts 8:17 relate to the concept of apostolic authority?

9.Why was the Holy Spirit given only after the apostles laid hands in Acts 8:17?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 8?

11.How are spirits transferred between entities?

12.What does the Bible say about laying on hands?

13.Hebrews 6:2: Do historical or archaeological records confirm the practices of multiple baptisms and the laying on of hands among early believers?

14.How do I receive the Holy Spirit?Then

• The time marker “Then” links this moment to verses 14–16, where the Samaritan believers had already “received the word of God” (Acts 8:14) and been baptized, yet the Spirit had not yet fallen on them.

• God orchestrates this delay so the next step unfolds in His order, fulfilling Jesus’ words inActs 1:8 that the gospel would move “from Jerusalem… to Samaria.” The sequence confirms that salvation is one work, but God may highlight different facets at different moments (compareActs 10:44; 19:6).

• The Spirit’s timing underscores that He is sovereign in every revival and personal conversion—never an automatic result of ritual but always the gracious initiative of God (John 3:8).

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Peter and John

• Two leading apostles travel from Jerusalem (Acts 8:14). Their presence publicly unites Samaritan converts with the original church, dissolving centuries of hostility (cf.John 4:9;Luke 9:52-56).

• Apostolic witness safeguards doctrine. The same pair who healed the lame man (Acts 3:1-8) now authenticate a spiritual miracle, showing that Christ’s authority operates through His appointed servants (Ephesians 2:20).

• Peter and John cooperate. No lone celebrity emerges; the Spirit emphasizes mutual accountability and shared mission (Philippians 1:27).

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laid their hands on them

• Laying on of hands signifies identification, blessing, and impartation throughout Scripture: Moses with Joshua (Numbers 27:18-23), Jesus with children (Mark 10:16), the church with new ministers (Acts 13:3;1 Timothy 4:14).

• Here the gesture conveys God’s acceptance of Samaritans as full members of Christ’s body, not a separate branch (Ephesians 2:14-18).

• The physical touch illustrates that spiritual realities are not abstract; God’s grace meets believers where they are—mind, soul, and body (Romans 12:1).

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and they received the Holy Spirit

• Luke uses the same verb “received” as inActs 2:38: “and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” The Samaritans obtain the promised Person, not merely an experience.

• The Spirit’s arrival likely included an outward sign (cf.Acts 8:18; 10:46), confirming to witnesses that God had done what only He can do (John 7:39).

• Indwelling by the Spirit seals believers for redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14) and empowers them for witness (Acts 1:8). Nothing is said about spiritual elites; every repentant, believing Samaritan is filled, just as every repentant, believing Jew was at Pentecost (Galatians 3:14, 28).

• The passage guards against superstition: Simon the magician cannot purchase this gift (Acts 8:18-20). The Spirit is personal and holy, never a commodity.

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summary

Acts 8:17 shows the intentional work of God in extending Pentecost to Samaria. Through Peter and John, the Lord visibly knits together Jewish and Samaritan believers, uses the laying on of hands as a sign of unity and blessing, and personally bestows the Holy Spirit on all who have trusted Christ. The verse underscores apostolic authority, the sovereignty of the Spirit’s timing, and the full inclusion of every believer in the life-giving presence of God.

(17)Then laid they their hands on them.--The act had already appeared as at once the symbol and the channel of the communication of spiritual gifts and offices in the appointment of the Seven. (See Note onActs 6:6.) Historically, the act here recorded has the interest of being the starting-point of what afterwards developed into the rite known as Confirmation. Taking the narrative of the Acts by itself, a question might be raised how far what we read of was normal or exceptional, connected, for a time only, with the bestowal of new and marvellous powers, or powerful, through the whole history of the Church, as a means of grace strengthening the spiritual life after those powers had been withdrawn. In any case it was probable that no hard and fast line marked the disappearance of the special and marvellous forms of spiritual power which were at first manifested in connection with the laying-on of hands, and so the practice had time to become part of the fixed order of the Church. When they ceased altogether we can understand the reluctance of men to give up a rite that had come down from the days of the Apostles. They would feel that the prayer of faith was still mighty to prevail; that the Spirit would still be given in answer to prayer joined with the symbolic act, though no longer in the same form, and would confirm and strengthen the work which had been begun in baptism, and so the primitive laying-on of hands passed into Confirmation, and was accompanied by other symbolic acts, such as anointing. The thought that it is so called because in it adultsconfirm the promises made for them when baptised as infants, is entirely modern, and cannot be traced further back than the sixteenth century.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Then
τότε(tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119:Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

[Peter and John] laid
ἐπετίθεσαν(epetithesan)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2007:To put, place upon, lay on; I add, give in addition. From epi and tithemi; to impose.

[their]
τὰς(tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

hands
χεῖρας(cheiras)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5495:A hand.

on
ἐπ’(ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

them,
αὐτούς(autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

they received
ἐλάμβανον(elambanon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2983:(a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

[the] Holy
Ἅγιον(Hagion)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 40:Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

Spirit.
Πνεῦμα(Pneuma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151:Wind, breath, spirit.


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NT Apostles: Acts 8:17 Then they laid their hands on them (Acts of the Apostles Ac)