Act 8:15, 17, 19 | PNT | STEP | Prayed for them . That the Holy Spirit might fall on them. They had been born of water and the Spirit ( ), but had not received that baptism of the Spirit, which conferred miraculous powers. This was bestowed by apostolic prayer and the laying on of hands. I suppose, not on all, but on those selected for teachers and preachers among the Samaritans. Plumptree states: ``The prayer clearly pointed to such a power of the Holy Spirit as had been bestowed on Pentecost.'' And Calvin writes: ``Luke speaks not of the common grace of the Holy Spirit, but of the singular gifts with which God would have certain endowed at the beginning of the gospel.''

Acts 8:15

Prayed for them. That the Holy Spirit might fall on them. They had been born of water and the Spirit (Joh 3:5), but had not received that baptism of the Spirit, which conferred miraculous powers. This was bestowed by apostolic prayer and the laying on of hands. I suppose, not on all, but on those selected for teachers and preachers among the Samaritans. Plumptree states: ``The prayer clearly pointed to such a power of the Holy Spirit as had been bestowed on Pentecost.'' And Calvin writes: ``Luke speaks not of the common grace of the Holy Spirit, but of the singular gifts with which God would have certain endowed at the beginning of the gospel.''

Acts 8:17

They laid [their] hands on them. Whedon says: ``This was part of that miraculous supremacy of the apostles that they could not communicate to any successor.'' This reception of the Holy Spirit was manifest in speaking with tongue and other powers.

Acts 8:15

Acts 8:17

Acts 8:19