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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Acts 8:17

Verse Acts 8:17. Then laid they their hands on them] Probably only on some select persons, who were thought proper for public use in the Church. They did not lay hands on all; for certainly no hands in this way were laid on Simon.

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See also Acts 8:17 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ... - This was an act of “prayer,” expressing an invocation to God that he would impart the blessing to “them.” On “how many” they laid their hands is not said. It is eviden...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    PART II The Witness to Samaria. Saul's Conversion and Peter's Witness in Caesarea. Chapter s 8-12 CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The first great persecution (Acts 8:1)._ 2. The preaching of the scattered believ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PETER AND SIMON. No more is heard of Philip at Samaria; the Jerusalem apostles appear, represented by Peter and John, who have got over the prohibition of Matthew 10:5. The baptism of Philip appears t...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they despatched Peter and John to them. They came down and prayed for them, so that they might receive the Holy Spirit,...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE FIRST OF THE MARTYRS (Acts 7:54-60 ; Acts 8:1) 8:1 As they listened to this their very hearts were torn with vexation and they gnashed their teeth at him. But he was full of the Holy Spirit and h...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    ON. upon. Greek. _epi._ App-104. RECEIVED. were receiving, i.e. continuing to receive....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Then laid they their hands on them_ That there might be some outward sign of this imparted grace. So Ananias (Acts 9:17) laid his hands on Saul, and he received the Holy Ghost. But on Cornelius and h...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PETER AND JOHN SENT DOWN TO SAMARIA. CONDUCT OF SIMON MAGUS...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤΌΤΕ ἘΠΕΤΊΘΕΣΑΝ Κ.Τ.Λ., _then they laid their hands on them_, that there might be some outward sign of this imparted grace. So Ananias (Acts 9:17) laid his hands on Saul, and he received the Holy Ghos...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE CONVERSION OF THE SAMARITANS ACTS 8:5-25:_ Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ and the gospel of His kingdom. (Acts 8:12) Signs and wonders confirmed the message Philip preached. As the go...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΠΕΤΊΘΕΣΑΝ _impf. ind. act. от_ ΈΠΙΤΊΘΗΜΙ (G2007) возлагать. Iterat. _impf._ подчеркивает повторение действия (МТ, 67). ΈΛΆΜΒΑΝΟΝ _impf. ind. act., см._ Acts 8:15....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHO, WHEN THEY WERE COME DOWN,— Hence it appears very probable, that the Spirit, in some or other of his miraculous powers, had been conferred upon all the Christian converts hitherto; and it was high...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    C. THE WORK OF PETER AND JOHN. Acts 8:14-25. I. AT JERUSALEM. Acts 8:14 Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 14...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. THEN LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. While the prayer seems to have been one act [the verb is...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    4 We now enter the second cycle of the kingdom testimony. Jerusalem and Judea have not heeded its proclamation. It is now offered to Samaria, then it will go to the limits of the earth, and even to th...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PHILIP IN SAMARIA. SIMON MAGUS The graphic details of the ministry of Philip which follow, were doubtless obtained from Philip himself. St. Luke stayed at his house at Cæsarea, and made the acquaintan...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 8 SAUL *PERSECUTES THE CHRISTIANS, 8:1-4 V1 Saul approved of Stephen’s murder. That same day, the Christians in *Jerusalem suffered very much....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THEN LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ON THEM. — The act had already appeared as at once the symbol and the channel of the communication of spiritual gifts and offices in the appointment of the Seven. (See Note...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 18 THE APOSTLES AND CONFIRMATION. Acts 8:14 IN the last chapter we noticed the work of Philip in Samaria, the present one will deal with the mission of the Apostles Peter and John to comple...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    There cannot be any reason to doubt the validity of St. Philip's baptism, and it is therefore evident that the laying on of hands (_cf._ Acts 19:6) is here distinct from baptism, and also from the app...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    CONFIRMING NEW BELIEVERS Acts 8:14-25 Simon attracted people to _himself;_ he posed as a man of power and mystery. The gospel fixes our thoughts exclusively upon _Jesus._ We preach Him as Lord, and o...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The popular outburst against Christianity evidenced in the martyrdom of Stephen was general. Members of the Church at Jerusalem were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. How dark the day seemed to...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Simon's Sin When the apostles heard of the events in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to the city. Theophilus may well have remembered that John and his brother, James, had asked the Lord if they sho...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _They received the Holy Ghost. Not but that they had received the grace of the Holy Ghost at their baptism; but not that plentitude of grace, and those gifts, which they received from bishops in the s...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    EVANGELIZATION OF SAMARIA 5-25. Philip, a bright, uncultured layman, sanctified in the Pentecostal revival, _“filled with the Spirit and wisdom,”_ rendering him eligible to the office of deacon, was t...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    _“Then they laid hands on them, and they continued to receive the Holy Ghost.”_ Why the church has utterly ignored this positive, clear and unequivocal Apostolical precedent, confirmatory of the secon...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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: (10) To whom they all gave h...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We are now arrived at a turning-point in the history, not merely of the church, but of the unfolding of the truth of God, and the manifestation of His ways. The death of Stephen, therefore, has in var...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE FIRST CONFIRMATION_ ‘Then laid they their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.’ Acts 8:17 This passage has a particular interest for us, because it is the first instance of what...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    17._When they had laid their hands. _The laying on of hands followeth prayers, whereby they testify that the grace of the Spirit is not included in the external ceremony, which they crave humbly at th...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Saul was present at Stephen's death, and consenting to it. [14] This is the end of the first phase of the assembly of God its history in immediate connection with Jerusalem and the Jews, as the centre...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ON THEM,.... The Ethiopic version adds, "who had been baptized"; but not upon all of them, men and women, only on some they were directed unto by the Spirit of God; whom he...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then laid they _their_ hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Ver. 17. _Then laid they their hands on them_] After the manner of the priests, who laid their hands on the beast that was to b...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _When the apostles heard that Samaria_ That the inhabitants of that country, or of the chief city thereof; _had received the word of God_ By faith; being desirous that these new converts should be fur...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Special gifts of the Holy Spirit:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THEN LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST. The apostles never undertook to exercise hierarchical powers and to assume a jurisdiction which they did not possess. But they had...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    As a wild beast tasting blood, the Jews were the more inflamed by the martyrdom of Stephen to greatly persecute the Church of God at Jerusalem. For this reason believers were scattered through Judea a...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    THEN THEY LAID HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. 1. Peter and John laid hands on them - that is imparted to them the ability to work some spiritual gift. 2. The received the miraculo...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Point to Note: Consider the simplicity of the above text. The apostles prayed for these Christians and then laid their hands on...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 exa...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    That this laying on of the hands of the apostles was not intended here as any rite whereby the apostles did confirm some, or ordain others, seems evident from the context. THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Theophilus to Autolycus Book I r house is beautiful and serviceable when it has not been anointed? And what man, when he enters into this life or into the gymnasium, is not anointed with oil? And what...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 8:17 Then G5119 laid G2007 (G5707) hands G5495 on G1909 them G846 and G2532 received G2983 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CONTINUING MINISTRY OF PETER (9:32-11:18). In preparing for the Gentile ministry of Paul, a preparation which has included what we have just considered concerning his conversion and ministry to Je...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 8:15-17. On the whole question of this laying on of the apostles' hands in Samaria, see the Excursus at the end of this chapter....

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    LAID THEY THEIR HANDS (επετιθεσαν τας χειρας). Imperfect active, repetition. The laying on of hands did not occur at the great Pentecost (Acts 2:4; Acts 2:33) nor in Acts 4:31;...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Acts 8:4. _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 ga...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Stephen had been stoned to death; but with his latest breath he prayed for his murderers. Then this chapter begins: Acts 8:1. _And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a gre...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Saul persecuting Christians. The first missionaries. The case of Simon, the sorcerer. Philip and the Ethiopian. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Saul, Stephen, Philip, Simon, apostles,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 8:1. _At that time there was a great persecution against the church._ With regard to this very tremendous storm which suddenly burst on the infant church, Cardinal Baronius, in his Ecclesiastical...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THEY PRAYED FOR THE BELIEVERS. That the Spirit might come down on them. The "gifts of the Spirit" are not the same as the "Spirit as a gift." These had already been born of water and the Spirit (John...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost._ CONFIRMATION According to-- I. Its origin. No sacramental institution of our Lord, but a time-honoured ordinance of the Churc...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John._ THE FIRST CHURCH VISITATION I. The occasion. There is-- 1. Chris...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But there was a certain man called Simon _ SIMON THE MAGIAN UNMASKED AND PUT TO SHAME This Simon was the first heretic in the Christian Church, the first to claim its fellowship while out of sympat...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 8:17 THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Lord waited to demonstrate the full power of the Holy Spirit (vv. Acts 8:15) until some of the apostles themselves could be pres

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 8:14. SENT.—The mission of the two apostles, Peter and John, is not said to have had as its motive the imparting of the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans (Holtzmann), although thi...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 8:1 _There arose on that day _for _at that time there was, _A.V._; in _for _at, _A.V. SAUL WAS CONSENTING TO HIS DEATH. St. Paul's repeated reference to this sad episode in his life i...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    We are introduced now to one of the chief persecutors. A zealous young Jew, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, whose name is Saul. And he was standing by, consenting to the death of Stephen, holding the coa...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Timothy 5:22; 2 Timothy 1:6; Acts 13:3; Acts 19:6;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    PHILIP THE EVANGELIST Acts 8:10 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Philip was a man mighty in word and in deed. He wrought miracles and preached Christ, The people may have talked and marveled at the many palsied a...

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