Acts 8:15
Verse
Context
Simon the Sorcerer
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.
Sermons
G.W. North
David Servant
Paris Reidhead
Ernest O'NeillSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
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.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
prayed . . . they might receive the Holy Ghost. (For only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus)--As the baptism of adults presupposed "the renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit 3:5-7; Co1 12:13), of which the profession of faith had to be taken for evidence, this communication of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the apostles' hands was clearly a superadded thing; and as it was only occasional, so it was invariably attended with miraculous manifestations (see Act 10:44, where it followed Peter's preaching; and Act 19:1-7, where, as here, it followed the laying on of hands). In the present case an important object was served by it--"the sudden appearance of a body of baptized disciples in Samaria, by the agency of one who was not an apostle, requiring the presence and power of apostles to perform their special part as the divinely appointed founders of the Church" [ALFORD]. Beautiful, too, was the spectacle exhibited of Jew and Samaritan, one in Christ.
John Gill Bible Commentary
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them,.... They had received him as a spirit of illumination and sanctification, and as, a spirit of conversion and faith; they had been regenerated, enlightened, and sanctified by him; and were converted by him, and brought to believe in Christ, and live, by faith upon him; they were baptized believers, and no more; as yet, none of them had gifts qualifying them for the ministry; and still less could any of them speak with tongues, or prophesy, or work miracles; the Holy Ghost had not yet descended on them for such purposes: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus: all as yet appeared in them was, that they were believers in Christ, and had been baptized in his name, upon a profession of their faith; and more than this they had been called to, or qualified for: the word "only", does not respect the form of baptism, as if they had been baptized only in the name of Christ; whereas they were doubtless baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; but refers to baptism itself, which was the only ordinance as yet administered to them.
Acts 8:15
Simon the Sorcerer
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.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Holy Ghost Was Not Yet Given
By G.W. North0BaptismThe Holy SpiritJHN 7:39ACT 8:15G.W. North emphasizes the significance of baptism in the name of Jesus during His earthly ministry, arguing that without a distinguishing name, the practice would have been meaningless. He explains that even those who believed and were baptized did not receive the Holy Ghost at that time, highlighting that they were still unregenerate. North references John 7:39 to clarify that the Holy Ghost had not yet been given, and he points out that the Samaritans, despite their belief, also had not received the Holy Ghost until Peter and John arrived. This underscores the importance of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life and the transition from mere belief to regeneration.
Day 82, Acts 18:18-28 & 19
By David Servant0ACT 8:15ACT 19:2ACT 19:6ACT 19:10ACT 19:21David Servant delves into Paul's third missionary journey, highlighting the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit after believing in Jesus, as seen in Ephesus with the 12 baptized disciples who had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Through Paul's teaching and baptism, these disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying. The power of discipleship is emphasized as Paul's daily teaching at the school of Tyrannus in Ephesus led to the spread of the gospel throughout Asia, resulting in extraordinary miracles and a true revival marked by public repentance and a public riot.
The Believable Christian
By Paris Reidhead0ACT 1:8ACT 8:5ACT 8:15ACT 8:17ACT 8:20ACT 8:24ROM 8:9EPH 5:18Paris Reidhead preaches on the importance of fellowship in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, using Acts 8:5-25 as a background. He emphasizes the need to preach Christ in all aspects of ministry, ensuring that the focus is on exalting the Lord Jesus. Reidhead highlights the responsibility of every believer to share Christ with others and to actively seek the fullness of the Spirit in their lives. He underscores the significance of church leadership in guiding and nurturing believers towards a deeper relationship with God, emphasizing the communal aspect of spiritual growth and the importance of personal appropriation of the Holy Spirit.
We Need a Clean Heart (Romans 6:6)
By Ernest O'Neill0MAT 5:48ACT 8:15ROM 6:6ROM 8:7GAL 5:19Ernest O'Neill shares his personal journey of struggling with inward sins and the constant battle to control his thoughts and feelings, despite outwardly appearing as a model Christian. He reflects on the common experience of suppressing inner struggles and rationalizing sins, leading to a lack of true victory and a sense of defeat. O'Neill emphasizes the need to surrender to God, acknowledge the rebellion in our hearts, and seek a genuine transformation through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, rather than relying on self-efforts or external solutions.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
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.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
prayed . . . they might receive the Holy Ghost. (For only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus)--As the baptism of adults presupposed "the renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit 3:5-7; Co1 12:13), of which the profession of faith had to be taken for evidence, this communication of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the apostles' hands was clearly a superadded thing; and as it was only occasional, so it was invariably attended with miraculous manifestations (see Act 10:44, where it followed Peter's preaching; and Act 19:1-7, where, as here, it followed the laying on of hands). In the present case an important object was served by it--"the sudden appearance of a body of baptized disciples in Samaria, by the agency of one who was not an apostle, requiring the presence and power of apostles to perform their special part as the divinely appointed founders of the Church" [ALFORD]. Beautiful, too, was the spectacle exhibited of Jew and Samaritan, one in Christ.
John Gill Bible Commentary
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them,.... They had received him as a spirit of illumination and sanctification, and as, a spirit of conversion and faith; they had been regenerated, enlightened, and sanctified by him; and were converted by him, and brought to believe in Christ, and live, by faith upon him; they were baptized believers, and no more; as yet, none of them had gifts qualifying them for the ministry; and still less could any of them speak with tongues, or prophesy, or work miracles; the Holy Ghost had not yet descended on them for such purposes: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus: all as yet appeared in them was, that they were believers in Christ, and had been baptized in his name, upon a profession of their faith; and more than this they had been called to, or qualified for: the word "only", does not respect the form of baptism, as if they had been baptized only in the name of Christ; whereas they were doubtless baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; but refers to baptism itself, which was the only ordinance as yet administered to them.