Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Parallel translations
- WEB saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
- BSB “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
- 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 14:7–11And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
- Matt 18:1–3At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
- John 5:44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
- 3 Jn 1:9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
- Acts 8:9–11But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
- 1 Cor 15:8–9And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
- Acts 8:17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
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
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