Acts 8:17

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G5119} laid they {G2007} their hands {G5495} on {G1909} them {G846}, and {G2532} they received {G2983} the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then, as Kefa and Yochanan placed their hands on them, they received the Ruach HaKodesh.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 8:17 records a pivotal moment in the early church's expansion into Samaria, where the apostles Peter and John, having been sent from Jerusalem, laid their hands on the Samaritan believers who had previously been baptized by Philip. This act was immediately followed by these new disciples receiving the Holy Spirit, demonstrating God's inclusive grace extending beyond traditional Jewish boundaries and affirming apostolic authority in the early spread of the Gospel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of the Gospel's expansion beyond Jerusalem, initiated by the persecution that scattered believers (Acts 8:1-4). Philip, one of the seven deacons appointed in [Acts 6](/acts/6 "Acts 6 - Appointment of the Seven"), becomes a key evangelist, bringing the message of Christ to Samaria. Prior to this verse, Philip's powerful ministry, including preaching, performing miracles, and casting out demons, led to widespread belief and baptisms among the Samaritans ([Acts 8:5-13](/acts/8-5-13 "Acts 8:5-13 - Philip's Ministry in Samaria")). However, a crucial element was still missing: the manifest reception of the Holy Spirit. This prompted the apostles in Jerusalem, upon hearing the news, to send Peter and John to Samaria ([Acts 8:14-16](/acts/8-14-16 "Acts 8:14-16 - Apostles Sent to Samaria")), setting the stage for the event described in [Acts 8:17](/acts/8-17 "Acts 8:17 - The Samaritans Receive the Holy Spirit"). The subsequent narrative details Simon the sorcerer's attempt to buy this spiritual power, which further highlights the divine nature of the Spirit's bestowal.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Samaritans were a people group with a complex and often hostile relationship with the Jews, stemming from historical, ethnic, and religious differences (see [John 4:9](/john/4-9 "John 4:9 - Jews and Samaritans")). They were descendants of Israelites who intermarried with foreign settlers after the Assyrian conquest, and they had their own temple on Mount Gerizim and accepted only the Pentateuch as scripture. For the Gospel to penetrate Samaria was a significant theological and cultural breakthrough, challenging centuries of animosity. The sending of Peter and John from Jerusalem underscores the early church's concern for unity and proper theological grounding, ensuring that the Samaritan converts were fully integrated into the nascent Christian community and received the same spiritual blessings as the Jewish believers. This event marked a crucial step in the universalization of the Gospel, paving the way for the later inclusion of Gentiles.
* **Key Themes:** [Acts 8:17](/acts/8-17 "Acts 8:17 - The Samaritans Receive the Holy Spirit") contributes significantly to several major themes within the book of Acts. Firstly, it emphasizes the **reception of the Holy Spirit** as a distinct, empowering experience for believers, often following initial conversion and water baptism, as seen here and later with the Ephesian disciples in [Acts 19:1-6](/acts/19-1-6 "Acts 19:1-6 - Paul and the Ephesian Disciples"). This reception is presented as essential for Christian life and witness, fulfilling Jesus' promise in [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Power to Witness"). Secondly, the passage highlights **apostolic authority and oversight** in the early church's expansion. The fact that Peter and John were sent to confirm and complete the work in Samaria underscores their unique role in authenticating the spread of the Gospel and ensuring doctrinal and experiential consistency across diverse groups. Thirdly, the **inclusion of Samaritans** is a powerful demonstration of the Gospel's universal scope, breaking down long-standing ethnic and religious barriers and foreshadowing the full inclusion of Gentiles, which becomes a major theme in later chapters of Acts, particularly with Cornelius in [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **laid they (Greek, _epitíthēmi'_):** From G2007. This verb means "to impose" or "to put on," used here in the sense of placing hands upon someone. In the New Testament, laying on of hands (G5495, _cheír_) is a significant physical act with various spiritual implications, including blessing, commissioning, healing, and, as in this context, the impartation of the Holy Spirit. The act signifies a transfer or bestowal, often associated with prayer and identification.
* **received (Greek, _lambánō'_):** From G2983. This verb denotes "to take" or "to get hold of," implying an active reception or acquisition. It signifies that the Holy Spirit was genuinely given and accepted by the Samaritan believers, rather than merely being present or available. The use of _lambánō_ emphasizes the tangible and experiential nature of this reception, making it a distinct event in their spiritual journey.
* **Holy Ghost (Greek, _hágios pneûma'_):** From G40 (_hágios_, "sacred, holy") and G4151 (_pneûma_, "spirit, breath"). This phrase refers to the third person of the Trinity, the divine Spirit of God. "Holy" emphasizes His moral purity and divine nature, while "Spirit" denotes His active, life-giving, and empowering presence. The reception of the Holy Ghost signifies the indwelling of God's active power within believers, enabling Him for spiritual life, understanding, and witness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then laid they [their] hands on them":** This clause describes the physical action performed by Peter and John. The adverb "Then" (G5119, _tóte_) indicates a sequential action, immediately following the apostles' arrival and prayer for the Samaritans. The "laying on of hands" was a recognized practice in Jewish and early Christian contexts, symbolizing identification, blessing, and the impartation of authority or spiritual gifts. Here, it is the outward sign accompanying the Spirit's bestowal, signifying the apostolic endorsement and the connection of these new believers to the broader body of Christ.
* **"and they received the Holy Ghost":** This clause describes the immediate and profound spiritual outcome of the apostles' action. The conjunction "and" (G2532, _kaí_) highlights the direct consequence. The Samaritan believers "received" (G2983, _lambánō_) the Holy Ghost (G40, _hágios_ G4151, _pneûma_), indicating an undeniable and manifest experience of the Spirit's presence and power. This reception was evidently observable, as implied by Simon the sorcerer's desire to purchase this ability (Acts 8:18-19), suggesting visible manifestations such as speaking in tongues or prophesying, though not explicitly stated in this verse.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs **Narrative Progression** to show the unfolding of God's plan for the Gospel's spread, moving from Jerusalem to Samaria. The **Action-Consequence** structure is evident, where the apostles' act of laying on hands directly leads to the Samaritans receiving the Holy Ghost, highlighting divine agency in response to human obedience. The use of **Symbolism** is also present in the "laying on of hands," which is a physical act representing a spiritual impartation and connection. This event serves as a **Type** or **Precedent** for the expansion of the church to new ethnic groups, demonstrating God's inclusive nature and the universal availability of the Holy Spirit.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 8:17 is a crucial text for understanding the dynamics of conversion and the reception of the Holy Spirit in the early church. While the normative pattern in Acts often shows the Spirit being received at the point of belief (e.g., [Acts 2:38](/acts/2-38 "Acts 2:38 - Repent and Be Baptized")), this passage, along with the account of the Ephesian disciples in [Acts 19](/acts/19 "Acts 19 - Paul in Ephesus"), illustrates that the manifest reception of the Spirit could sometimes be a distinct, subsequent experience, particularly when the Gospel was breaking into new cultural or geographical territories. This often involved apostolic confirmation, signifying the unity of the Spirit's work across all believers and the importance of the church's leadership in guiding and authenticating new movements. The theological implication is that the Spirit's presence is essential for full Christian life and empowerment for witness, and God orchestrates its bestowal in ways that affirm His sovereignty and the organic growth of His church.

* [Acts 2:38](/acts/2-38 "Repentance, Baptism, and the Gift of the Holy Spirit")
* [Acts 10:44-48](/acts/10-44-48 "The Holy Spirit Falls on Gentiles")
* [Acts 19:1-6](/acts/19-1-6 "Paul and the Ephesian Disciples Receive the Holy Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 8:17 offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us of the vital and transformative role of the Holy Spirit in the life of every Christian. The Spirit is not merely an optional extra but the very power of God that enables us to live a Christ-like life, understand divine truth, and bear witness to the Gospel. While the specific timing and outward manifestations of Spirit reception may vary, the underlying truth is that all genuine believers are indwelt by the Spirit upon conversion, as affirmed in [Romans 8:9](/romans/8-9 "Romans 8:9 - The Spirit of Christ"). This passage also challenges us to consider our own openness to the Spirit's work, both individually and corporately. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Samaritans underscores the church's call to break down all human-made barriers—ethnic, social, economic, or cultural—and embrace all who believe in Christ. The unity of the Spirit transcends all divisions, calling us to a radical inclusivity that reflects God's heart for all humanity. Finally, the role of apostolic hands reminds us of the importance of spiritual authority, mentorship, and the communal nature of faith, where seasoned believers can impart wisdom, blessing, and encouragement to those new in faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the account in Acts 8:17 deepen your understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in the life of a believer?**
* **In what ways might the church today be called to break down "Samaritan" barriers, embracing those traditionally marginalized or excluded?**
* **What does the apostles' involvement in this event teach us about the importance of spiritual leadership and corporate affirmation in the church?**

### FAQ
**Was the Holy Spirit not given to the Samaritans when they first believed and were baptized by Philip?**

Answer: The text of Acts 8 indicates that while the Samaritans believed Philip's message about Christ and were baptized, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit in the manifest way described in Acts 8:17. [Acts 8:16](/acts/8-16 "Acts 8:16 - The Holy Spirit Had Not Yet Fallen") explicitly states, "For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." This suggests that while they were genuinely converted and had the Spirit in some sense (as no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit, [1 Corinthians 12:3](/1_corinthians/12-3 "1 Corinthians 12:3 - No One Can Say Jesus is Lord Except by the Holy Spirit")), the empowering, experiential outpouring of the Spirit, often accompanied by visible signs, had not yet occurred. The sending of Peter and John and their laying on of hands seems to have been God's chosen means to visibly integrate these new Samaritan believers into the broader, Spirit-empowered community of the early church, emphasizing unity and apostolic authentication. This pattern is not necessarily normative for all conversions but highlights God's sovereign and diverse ways of working.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 8:17, while focusing on the Spirit's reception, ultimately points to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, the "Holy Ghost," is the Spirit of Christ, sent by the Father and the Son to indwell believers and continue Christ's work on earth. The Samaritans received the Spirit because they had believed Philip's preaching "concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" ([Acts 8:12](/acts/8-12 "Acts 8:12 - Belief and Baptism in Samaria")). The Spirit's bestowal, facilitated by the apostles, confirmed that the salvation offered through Christ was for all, breaking down the ancient animosity between Jews and Samaritans, just as Christ Himself had ministered to a Samaritan woman at the well in [John 4](/john/4 "John 4 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman"). This event foreshadows the universal reach of Christ's redemptive work, demonstrating that His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection secured the promise of the Spirit for "all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call" ([Acts 2:39](/acts/2-39 "Acts 2:39 - The Promise is for You and Your Children")). The Spirit empowers believers to be Christ's witnesses ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Power to Witness")) and to live out the new life found in Him, making the invisible Christ powerfully present in the world through His church.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 19:6

And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Acts 6:6

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them.

2 Timothy 1:6

¶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

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 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Hebrews 6:2

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Numbers 8:10

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: