who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
Parallel translations
- KJV Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
- BSB On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
- NKJV who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
- NASB who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
- NLT As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter and John prayed that the Samaritan believers would receive the Holy Spirit. Their prayer sought the full blessing of the Spirit for these new converts.
Overview
The two apostles prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit. This unusual delay between belief and the Spirit's coming appears tied to this unique transitional moment, publicly uniting the Samaritan believers with the apostolic church. It underscored that Samaritans were fully included in God's people through the same Spirit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Acts 2:38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- John 16:23–24“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
- Phil 1:19For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
- Matt 18:19Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
- John 14:13–14Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 8:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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