Acts 8 · a question people ask
"for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus" (8:16). They had believed and been baptized (8:12). Why did the Holy Spirit come to them later?
First, what the chapter says. When they believed Philip, "they were baptized, both men and women" (8:12). "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit" (8:14-15), "for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus" (8:16). "Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." (8:17). The chapter says no more about why than these verses. Acts tells of the Holy Spirit coming in other chapters too, each in its own words (10:44-48, 19:1-6). Christians read these verses in more than one way, each resting on its verses, and these notes don't choose between them. Both readings agree that the Holy Spirit is God's gift: Acts says "the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles" (10:45), and in this chapter Peter speaks of "the gift of God" (8:20). These notes don't take up what baptism does or whether it is needed for forgiveness, who is to be baptized, or speaking in other languages, and they apply neither reading to any church today.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Ordinarily received on believing; Samaria a particular moment
Those who read it this way take it that the Spirit is ordinarily received when a person believes. Peter, telling of the Gentiles, says, "God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ" (11:17), and later, "giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us" (15:8). They read Samaria as a particular moment, as the word went out from Jerusalem to Samaria (1:8, 8:14). And they note that when Paul asked the disciples at Ephesus into what they were baptized, they said, "Into John’s baptism" (19:3), and Paul then spoke to them (19:4-5).
Acts 11:17 · Acts 15:8 · Acts 1:8 · Acts 8:14 · Acts 19:3-5
Can be received after believing, and prayed for
Those who read it this way take it that receiving the Spirit can come after believing, and is prayed for. Peter and John "prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit" (8:15). At Ephesus Paul asks, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" (19:2), and "When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them" (19:6).
Acts 8:15 · Acts 19:2 · Acts 19:6
The verses
“But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning God’s Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
“Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
“But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.” He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.”