Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- KJV Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
- 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.
- 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 19:6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
- Acts 6:6whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
- 2 Tim 1:6For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
- Acts 8:18Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
- Acts 2:4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
- Num 8:10You shall present the Levites before Yahweh. The children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,
- Heb 6:2of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
- Acts 9:17Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
- Num 27:18Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
- Rom 1:11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;
- 1 Tim 4:14Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.
- 1 Tim 5:22Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
- Gal 3:2–5I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
- Acts 13:3Then, 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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