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Acts 8

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

And there was great joy in that city.

But 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:

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

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

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

What does Acts 8:16 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:16 provides insight into an event that took place during the early spread of Christianity.

This verse describes a situation where individuals in Samaria had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus but had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

The phrase "for as yet he was fallen upon none of them" refers to the Holy Spirit not having come upon any of the new believers, despite their baptism. This highlights a distinction between baptism and the reception of the Holy Spirit, which was an essential aspect of early Christian initiation.

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Historical Context

The Book of Acts, traditionally attributed to Luke, details the history of the early Church following the ascension of Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:16 is situated within the narrative of the Apostle Philip's evangelistic work in Samaria.

Samaria was a region with a complex and often hostile relationship with Jewish people due to historical, ethnic, and religious differences.

As the gospel spread outside the Jewish community, tensions arose concerning the integration of various groups into the nascent Christian faith.

Theological Insights

This verse has been discussed from several theological perspectives:

Baptismal theology: It raises questions about the relationship between baptism and the reception of the Holy Spirit.

Some Christian traditions view baptism as a sacrament that includes the gift of the Holy Spirit, while others see them as separate events.

Charismatic perspective: In charismatic theology, the "falling upon" of the Holy Spirit often denotes a special empowerment for service or the manifestation of spiritual gifts, separate from conversion or baptism.
Ecumenical implications: The verse also has been used in ecumenical dialogues to discuss the validity and efficacy of baptism across different Christian denominations.

Practical Applications

Acts 8:16 encourages believers to seek a fuller experience of their faith that includes both the outward sign of baptism and the inward working of the Holy Spirit.

It also suggests the importance of communal prayer and the laying on of hands as means by which believers can support one another in their spiritual journeys.

Cross-References

Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 19:5-6: "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."

Acts 10:44-45: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word."

Language Study

The key phrase "was fallen upon" is a translation of the Greek "ἐπιπίπτω (epipipto)," which means to fall upon or to come upon powerfully. Its use here conveys a sudden or powerful experience of the Holy Spirit.

The term "baptized" translates from "βαπτίζω (baptizo)" which means to immerse or submerge, used metaphorically in the New Testament for being immersed into someone's name, which implies a close association or identification.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various religious traditions, there are ceremonies and rituals that signify a spiritual initiation or the receiving of divine power.

For instance, in certain strands of Judaism, the laying on of hands was a practice associated with blessing and endowment of authority.

In some pagan religions, ritual washing or initiation rites can parallel the idea of baptism.

However, the Christian experience of baptism followed by the reception of the Holy Spirit is unique in its emphasis on a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Scientific Perspectives

There is no direct scientific perspective on this verse since it deals with spiritual experiences that fall outside the scope of scientific inquiry.

However, the fields of psychology and neurology have studied altered states of consciousness and the effects of religious experiences on the human brain, which can shed light on what believers might experience during significant spiritual moments like being "fallen upon" by the Holy Spirit.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 8:16 often focus on the sequence of baptism and reception of the Holy Spirit as a topic of doctrinal debate.

For example, John Calvin's commentary emphasizes that baptism and faith are sometimes separated from the outward signs of the Holy Spirit's presence.

Matthew Henry's commentary notes that the Holy Spirit's "gifts and graces" are not mechanically tied to the sacrament of baptism but are a result of God's sovereign will.

Modern commentaries might delve into the sociological implications of the Samaritans' inclusion into the early Christian community and the role of the Holy Spirit in bridging divides between different groups.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:16 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 8:16 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?