Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- BSB Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- NKJV Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- NASB Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
- NLT Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received 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
When the apostles laid hands on them, the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit. God confirmed their full inclusion in His people through apostolic ministry.
Overview
Through the laying on of the apostles' hands, the Spirit came upon the Samaritan believers. This visible bestowal sealed the unity of the church across the old Jewish-Samaritan divide. It demonstrated that the same gift of the Spirit was for all who believe in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Acts 19:6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
- Acts 6:6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
- 2 Tim 1:6Wherefore 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 8:18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
- Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- Num 8:10And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
- Heb 6:2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
- Acts 9:17And 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.
- Num 27:18And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
- Rom 1:11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
- 1 Tim 4:14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
- 1 Tim 5:22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
- Gal 3:2–5This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- Acts 13:3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
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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 8:17 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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