Acts 8:14-19
What is written? (ESV)
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.
What does it say?
The apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God. They sent Peter and John in order to pray and lay their hands on them so they could receive the Holy Spirit — He had not yet fallen on them because they had only been baptized in the name Jesus. So they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw this he offered the apostles money so he too could impart this power.
What is its immediate context?
The disciples scattered from Jerusalem (vss 2,4) following the stoning of Stephen (chapter 7). As a result, there were Samaritans, including a ‘sorcerer’ named Simon, who had been baptized (apparently by Philip from Acts 6). While “the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did” (vs 6), Simon’s magic was apparently a distraction or even a competition. “They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the power of God that is called Great.” (vs 10)
How Acts 8:14-19 is applied across Bible answers
How were miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit given?
A very plain passage, restated several ways, that "the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands." We read that they did it, then we read that Simon saw it, then we read Simon's statement reiterating it.
"Simon believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed." (vs 13) This means that before Simon ever saw the transference of miraculous gifts, he had traveled with Philip who himself had this gift. Importantly, he never saw Philip lay his hands on someone to transfer the gift.
What is the gift of tongues?
The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were originally possessed only by the apostles and passed on to others only through the laying on of their hands.
Of note, these were baptized believers that were receiving this power from the apostles.
Why does God give the non-miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit? (Acts 2:38-39)
The specific issue in question here is the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, which was only "given through the laying on of the apostles' hands." The text is clear that these were baptized believers. Therefore, they had forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit1 (unlike what Paul found in Ephesus5). What they were lacking were the miraculous gifts of the Spirit since an apostle had not yet laid hands on them.
