God’s Word Translation
Acts 8:15
15Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit.
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 believed, and after he was baptized, he became devoted to Philip. Simon was amazed to see the miracles and impressive things that were happening. 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God’s word, they sent Peter and John to them. Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Spirit. 16(Before this the Holy Spirit had not come to any of the Samaritans. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit.
Read all of Acts 8Acts 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 answered them, “All of you must turn to God and change the way you think and act, and each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.
- Matthew 18:19“I can guarantee again that if two of you agree on anything here on earth, my Father in heaven will accept it.
- John 14:13I will do anything you ask ⌞the Father⌟ in my name so that the Father will be given glory because of the Son.
- John 16:23When that day comes, you won’t ask me any more questions. I can guarantee this truth: If you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you.
- Philippians 1:19for another reason. I know that I will be set free through your prayers and through the help that comes 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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