Acts 8:15

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
When they rode in, the first thing they did was pray that the Holy Spirit might be given to all the new believers.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Legacy Standard Bible
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Bible in Basic English
Who, when they came there, made prayer for them, that the Holy Spirit might be given to them:

Darby Translation
who, having come down, prayed for them that they might receive [the] Holy Spirit;

New King James Version
who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Christian Standard Bible®
After they went down there, they prayed for them, so the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.

World English Bible
who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Who being come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

Weymouth's New Testament
They, when they came down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

King James Version (1611)
Who when they were come downe, praied for them that they might receiue the holy Ghost.

Literal Translation
who going down prayed concerning them so that they may receive the Holy Spirit.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Which, wha they were come, prayed for the, yt they might receaue the holy goost.

Mace New Testament (1729)
who upon their arrival, prayed for them that they might receive the holy spirit.

Amplified Bible
They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

American Standard Version
who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

Revised Standard Version
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which when they were come prayed for the that they myght receave ye holy goost

Update Bible Version
who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

Webster's Bible Translation
Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

Young's Literal Translation
who having come down did pray concerning them, that they may receive the Holy Spirit, --

New Century Version
When Peter and John arrived, they prayed that the Samaritan believers might receive the Holy Spirit.

New English Translation
These two went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.

Contemporary English Version
When the two apostles arrived, they prayed that the people would be given the Holy Spirit.

Complete Jewish Bible
who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Ruach HaKodesh.

English Standard Version
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Which whe they were come downe, prayed for them, that they might receiue the holy Ghost.

George Lamsa Translation
Who, when they went down, prayed over them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Hebrew Names Version
who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Ruach HaKodesh;

International Standard Version
They went down and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.Acts 2:38;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And they went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Spirit of Holiness:

Murdock Translation
And they went down, and prayed over them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

New Living Translation
As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.

New Life Bible
When Peter and John got there, they prayed that the new followers might receive the Holy Spirit.

English Revised Version
who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

New Revised Standard
The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Who, indeed, going down, prayed for them, that they might receive Holy Spirit; -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who, when they were come, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

King James Version
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Lexham English Bible
who went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which when they were come downe, prayed for the that they myght receaue the holy ghost.

Easy-to-Read Version
When Peter and John arrived, they prayed for the Samaritan believers to receive the Holy Spirit.

New American Standard Bible
who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit.

Good News Translation
When they arrived, they prayed for the believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne thei camen, thei preieden for hem, that thei schulden resseyue the Hooli Goost;

Contextual Overview

¹⁴When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.¹⁶For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money. ¹⁹"Give me this power as well," he said, "so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." ²⁰But Peter replied, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²²Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. ²³For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

prayed: Acts 2:38, Matthew 18:19, John 14:13, John 14:14, John 16:23, John 16:24, Philippians 1:19

Reciprocal: Numbers 27:18 - lay John 20:22 - Receive Acts 8:5 - Philip Acts 10:44 - the Holy Ghost Acts 11:1 - the apostles Acts 13:3 - General Acts 19:2 - Have ye Romans 1:11 - that 1 Corinthians 14:13 - pray Galatians 3:2 - Received

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Who when they were come down,.... To the city of Samaria, where Philip was, and these converts dwelt:

prayed for them; for some of them, unto God:

that they might receive the Holy Ghost; the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, as to be able to speak with tongues, to prophesy and work miracles: they might pray for them all, that they might have a larger measure of grace, and more spiritual light and knowledge; and that they might be established in the doctrines of the Gospel, and hold fast the profession of their faith unto the end; but it can hardly be thought that they should pray for them all, both men and women, that they might have the above extraordinary gifts, which were not necessary to them all: and that these are meant by the Holy Ghost is clear from what follows, since he was not yet fallen on any of them, which cannot be understood in any other sense; and seeing it was something visible, which Simon could discern, and therefore cannot mean internal grace, and an increase of that.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Were 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 of God.” The following remarks may make this plain:

1. It was not that gift of the Holy Spirit by which “the soul is converted,” for they had this when they believed, Acts 8:6. Everywhere the conversion of the sinner is traced to his influence. Compare John 1:13.

(2)It was not the ordinary influences of the Spirit by which “the soul is sanctified”; for sanctification is a progressive work, and this was sudden.

(3)It was something that was discernible by “external effects”; for Simon saw Acts 8:18 that this was done by the laying on of hands.

(4)The phrase “the gift of the Holy Spirit,” and “the descent of the Holy Spirit,” signified not merely his “ordinary” influences in converting sinners, but those “extraordinary” influences that attended the first preaching of the gospel - the power of speaking with new tongues Acts 2:0, the power of working miracles, etc., Acts 19:6.

(5)This is further clear from the fact that Simon wished to “purchase” this power, evidently to keep up his influence among the people, and to retain his ascendency as a juggler and sorcerer. But surely Simon would not wish to “purchase” the converting and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit; it was the power of working miracles. These things made it clear that by the gift of the Holy Spirit here is meant the power of speaking with new tongues (compare 1 Corinthians 14:0) and the power of working miracles. And it is further clear that “this” passage should not be adduced in favor of “the rite of confirmation” in the Christian church. For, besides the fact that there are now no “apostles,” the thing spoken of here is entirely different from the rite of confirmation. “This” was to confer the extraordinary power of working miracles; “that” is for a different purpose.

If it be asked “why” this power was conferred on the early Christians, it may be replied that it was to furnish striking proof of the truth of the Christian religion; to impress the people, and thus to win them to embrace the gospel. The early church was thus armed with the power of the Holy Spirit; and this extraordinary attestation of God to his message was one cause of the rapid propagation and permanent establishment of the gospel.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 8:15. When 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; and, in the country, of going up to London. It is necessary to make this remark, lest any person should be led away with the notion that Jerusalem was situated on the highest ground in Palestine. It is a mode of speech which is used to designate a royal or imperial city.

Prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. — It seems evident from this case, that even the most holy deacons, though full of the Holy Ghost themselves, could not confer this heavenly gift on others. This was the prerogative of the apostles, and they were only instruments; but they were those alone by which the Lord chose to work. They prayed and laid their hands on the disciples, and God sent down the gift; so, the blessing came from God by the apostles, and not from the apostles to the people. But for what purpose was the Holy Spirit thus given? Certainly not for the sanctification of the souls of the people: this they had on believing in Christ Jesus; and this the apostles never dispensed. It was the miraculous gifts of the Spirit which were thus communicated: the speaking with different tongues, and those extraordinary qualifications which were necessary for the successful preaching of the Gospel; and doubtless many, if not all, of those on whom the apostles laid their hands, were employed more or less in the public work of the Church.