Acts 8:15

Acts 8:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
• New International Version (NIV)When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
• English Standard Version (ESV)who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
• New King James Version (NKJV)who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Context of Acts 8:15

13Even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he followed Philip everywhere and was amazed as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed. 14When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. After they went down there, they prayed for them so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down on any of them. 16(They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:15 word by word

οἵτινες καταβάντες προσηύξαντο περὶ αὐτῶν ὅπως λάβωσιν πνεῦμα ἅγιον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whoὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• when they were come downκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
• prayedπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• forπερίperi · aboutG4012
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• thatὅπωςhopōs · thatG3704
• they might receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• the Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• Ghostπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151

Cross-references for Acts 8:15

• Acts 2:38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Matthew 18:19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
• John 14:13Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
• John 16:23“In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
• Philippians 1:19because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Commentaries on Acts 8:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15When they were come down - The very same mode of speaking, in reference to Jerusalem formerly, obtains now in reference to London. The metropolis in both cases is considered as the centre; and all parts, in every direction, no matter how distant, or how situated, are represented as below the metropolis. Hence we so frequently hear of persons going up to Jerusalem: and going down from the same. So in London the people speak of going down to the country…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Were come down - To Samaria. Jerusalem was generally represented as “up,” or “higher” than the rest of the land, Matthew 20:18; John 7:8. Prayed for them - They sought at the hand of God the extraordinary communications of the Holy Spirit. They did not even pretend to have the power of doing it without the aid of God. That they might receive the Holy Ghost - The main question here is, what was meant by the Holy Spirit? In Acts 8:20, it is called “the gift…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-25Verses 14-25 The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of these coverts, in the extraordinary powers conveyed by the descent of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost. We may take encouragement from this example, in praying to God to give the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost to all for whose spiritual welfare we are concerned; for that includes all blessings. No man can give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands; but we should use our best…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-17When the apostles sent two of their own representatives to Samaria, it was an important step in overcoming prejudice (compare Matthew 10:5; Luke 9:52–54; John 4:9; 8:48). It was even more remarkable that Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans who trusted in Christ to receive the Holy Spirit. This event is similar to the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem and marks how the Holy Spirit's power spread from Judea to Samaria (Acts 2:1–47; 1:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1714-17. the apostles ... sent Peter and John--showing that they regarded Peter as no more than their own equal.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 8:15

• Baptism
• Holy Spirit
• Intercession
• John
• Peter
• Samaria

In the dictionaries

• Holy Ghost
• Believe
• Bitterness
• Consent
• Devout
• Havock
• Join
• Magic
• Peter
• Pray

Commentaries on Acts 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings