“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Parallel translations
- WEB saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
- KJV Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
- NKJV saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
- NASB saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
- NLT “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will 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
Simon asked to buy the power to give the Spirit by laying on hands. He sought to possess God's gift for his own influence.
Overview
Simon's request to obtain this power for himself confirms his self-centered motive. He treated the holy work of God as a means to enhance his own standing, as in his sorcery days (verses 9-11). This sets up Peter's stern rebuke and the exposure of Simon's true spiritual condition.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Luke 14:7–11When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:
- Matt 18:1–3At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
- John 5:44How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- 3 Jn 1:9I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
- Acts 8:9–11Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
- 1 Cor 15:8–9And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
- Acts 8:17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
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 8:19 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.