Acts 8:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

NIV: and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

NASB: saying, 'Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'

CSB: saying, "Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."

NLT: Let me have this power, too,' he exclaimed, 'so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!'

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

NKJV: saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Simon, a magician in Samaria, has heard Philip's teaching about how Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah, come to forgive the sins of the world. The message sounds good to him, and he agrees to be baptized (Acts 8:9–13). But when Peter and John lay their hands on his neighbors and the Holy Spirit comes down, his mind quickly sees the business opportunity.

Where Ananias and Sapphira wanted the notoriety of making a significant contribution to God (Acts 5:1–11), Simon apparently wants to use God for his own gain. This passage is the origin of the word "simony," which is the practice of buying or selling what only God can give, such as spiritual gifts or forgiveness, or should give, such as church offices.

Simon doesn't see the bigger picture. Although he is baptized, he doesn't understand that he needs to repent from his sins and be reconciled to God. He doesn't understand that Peter and John are laying their hands on the new converts to validate their entry into the church—the body of Christ—that will follow Jesus' teachings and suffer for it. He doesn't understand that the Holy Spirit promises eternal rewards in God's kingdom, not financial gain in the world.

He is about to learn how much his greed could cost him.

Acts 8:9–25 further describes the apostles' pursuit of Jesus' plan to bring salvation to those He chooses. Simon, a popular and presumably wealthy sorcerer, sees Philip's miracles. He especially notices the way the Holy Spirit comes on people when Peter and John lay their hands on them. Simon offers to buy their power. Meanwhile, Peter and John are in Samaria. The thought of Samaritans following Jesus goes against longstanding Jewish traditions. Yet the Samaritans are accepting Christ, and these messengers of the church are there to see the Holy Spirit come on them. God is not impressed by worldly popularity or wealth but on repentant, submissive hearts.

Jesus told the apostles they would spread the gospel (Acts 1:8) and persecution makes that happen. Upon the death of the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:54–60), a young Pharisee named Saul builds on the momentum to arrest and, if possible, execute Jesus followers (Acts 8:1–3; 26:10). The apostles mostly stay in Jerusalem, but the church members flee, spreading the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Important encounters in this passage include a magician named Simon and the conversion of an Ethiopian court official.

Acts 1:8 gives the outline of the book of Acts; Acts 1—7 describes the spread of the gospel through Jerusalem; Acts 8:1—11:18 shows the gospel spreading in Judea and Samaria; Acts 11:19—28:31 sees the gospel spread to the ''end of the earth,'' finalizing in Rome. Ironically, although Paul is the central figure in spreading Jesus' good news to the ends of the earth, his early persecution of the church in Jerusalem is instrumental in spreading the gospel through Judea and Samaria.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.