Acts 8:16
New International Version
because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

New Living Translation
The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

English Standard Version
for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Berean Standard Bible
For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Berean Literal Bible
For He was not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

King James Bible
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

New King James Version
For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

New American Standard Bible
(For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

NASB 1995
For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

NASB 1977
For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Legacy Standard Bible
For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Amplified Bible
for He had not yet fallen on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [as His possession].

Christian Standard Bible
(They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. )

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For He had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

American Standard Version
for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Contemporary English Version
Before this, the Holy Spirit had not been given to any of them, though some of them had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

English Revised Version
for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
(Before this the Holy Spirit had not come to any of the Samaritans. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Good News Translation
For the Holy Spirit had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

International Standard Version
Before this, he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Majority Standard Bible
For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.

NET Bible
(For the Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

New Heart English Bible
for he had not yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Webster's Bible Translation
(For as yet he had fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Weymouth New Testament
for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

World English Bible
for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for as yet He was fallen on none of them, and only they have been immersed—into the Name of the Lord Jesus;

Berean Literal Bible
For He was not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Young's Literal Translation
for as yet he was fallen upon none of them, and only they have been baptized -- to the name of the Lord Jesus;

Smith's Literal Translation
(For not yet was it fallen upon any of them: only they were immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For he was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For he had not yet come to any among them, since they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

New American Bible
for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

New Revised Standard Version
(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For as yet it had not come upon them although they had been baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For he was upon none of them yet, but they had only been baptized in the name of our Lord Yeshua.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For he had not yet fallen on any of them; only they had been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Godbey New Testament
For he had not yet fallen on any of them: but they were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Haweis New Testament
for as yet he had not fallen on any one of them: only they had been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Mace New Testament
(for as yet he had not descended on any of them: they having only been baptized in the name of the Lord

Weymouth New Testament
for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Worrell New Testament
for as yet He had fallen upon no one of them, but they had only been immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Worsley New Testament
only they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus:) and then they laid their hands on them,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Simon the Sorcerer
15On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. 16For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.…

Cross References
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:44-48
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. / All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. / For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said, ...

Acts 19:5
On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Romans 6:3-4
Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? / We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

Galatians 3:27
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

Ephesians 4:5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Colossians 2:12
And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 3:21
And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.

Joel 2:28-29
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. / Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

Ezekiel 36:25-27
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. / I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.


Treasury of Scripture

(For as yet he was fallen on none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

he was.

Acts 10:44-46
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word…

Acts 11:15-17
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning…

Acts 19:2
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

only.

Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:47,48
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? …

Acts 19:5,6
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus…

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Acts 8
1. By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria,
4. by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;
9. among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;
14. Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church;
15. where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;
18. when Simon would have bought the like power of them,
20. Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness,
22. and exhorting him to repentance,
25. together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;
26. but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch.














For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them;
This phrase indicates a distinct experience of receiving the Holy Spirit separate from water baptism. In the early church, the coming of the Holy Spirit was often accompanied by visible signs, such as speaking in tongues or prophesying (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-46). The delay in the Holy Spirit's arrival here emphasizes the apostolic authority and unity of the church, as Peter and John were sent to Samaria to lay hands on the new believers (Acts 8:14-17). This event underscores the transitional nature of the book of Acts, where the gospel spreads from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus signifies identification with Christ and His authority. It reflects the early church's practice of baptizing new believers as a public declaration of faith and allegiance to Jesus as Lord. This baptism is distinct from the baptism of John, which was a baptism of repentance (Acts 19:4). The phrase highlights the importance of both water baptism and the reception of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. It also connects to the Great Commission, where Jesus instructed His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), showing the Trinitarian nature of Christian baptism.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Philip the Evangelist
One of the seven deacons chosen in Acts 6, Philip was instrumental in spreading the Gospel to Samaria, where he preached and baptized new believers.

2. The Samaritans
The people of Samaria who received the word of God and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus but had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

3. Peter and John
Apostles sent from Jerusalem to Samaria to pray for the new believers so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

4. The Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity, whose coming upon the believers in Samaria was a significant event, marking the inclusion of Samaritans into the early Christian community.

5. Samaria
A region with historical tensions between Jews and Samaritans, highlighting the breaking of cultural barriers through the Gospel.
Teaching Points
The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is essential for the full experience of Christian life and empowerment for service. Believers should seek the fullness of the Spirit in their lives.

Unity in the Body of Christ
The inclusion of Samaritans demonstrates the breaking down of ethnic and cultural barriers. Christians are called to embrace unity and diversity within the body of Christ.

The Importance of Apostolic Authority
The involvement of Peter and John underscores the importance of apostolic authority and unity in the early church. It reminds us of the value of spiritual leadership and guidance.

Baptism and the Holy Spirit
Baptism is an important step of obedience, but believers should also seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for effective Christian living.

Prayer and Laying on of Hands
The practice of laying on of hands and prayer for the Holy Spirit's empowerment is a biblical model for imparting spiritual gifts and blessings.(16) As yet he was fallen upon none of them.--The same verb is used of the gift of the Spirit in Acts 10:44; Acts 11:15, and of Peter's trance in Acts 10:10. It is manifestly used to express an unlooked-for change in a man's normal state of consciousness, the sudden advent of new powers and feelings.

Verse 16. - Had been for were, A.V.; into for in, A.V. Into the name. In seems preferable (comp. Matthew 10:41, 42). The use of the prepositions in the New Testament is much influenced by the Hebrew, through the language of the LXX. As regards baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus, here and ver. 39, T.R.; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5, we are not to suppose that any other formula was used than that prescribed by our Lord (Matthew 28:19). But as baptism was preceded by a confession of faith similar to that in our own Baptismal Service, so it was a true description to speak of baptism as being in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

[the Holy Spirit] had
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

not yet
οὐδέπω (oudepō)
Adverb
Strong's 3764: Not yet, never before. From oude and po; not even yet.

fallen
ἐπιπεπτωκός (epipeptōkos)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1968: To fall upon, press upon, light upon, come over. From epi and pipto; to embrace or seize.

upon
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

any
οὐδενὶ (oudeni)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

of them;
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

they had simply been
ὑπῆρχον (hypērchon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5225: To begin, am, exist, be in possession. From hupo and archomai; to begin under, i.e. Come into existence; expletively, to exist (verb).

baptized
βεβαπτισμένοι (bebaptismenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 907: Lit: I dip, submerge, but specifically of ceremonial dipping; I baptize.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

name
ὄνομα (onoma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord
κυρίου (kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

Jesus.
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.


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