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| Q: | In Acts 8:15-17 it says "Who when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Why hadn't they received the Holy Ghost with the Baptism and why was it necessary to lay hands on them to receive Him. | ||||||
| A: | We know that the Holy Spirit was present and active in the Samaritan Christians because they believed and were baptized (Acts 8:12). Acts 8:16 means that there was no outward evidence of the Spirit's gifts, the usual signs of the Spirit's presence during the Apostolic Age. See, for example, 1 Corinthians 12:7-13). Why did God delay the giving of the Spirit? He used this occasion to demonstrate to the apostles and the Samaritans and to the whole church that the old barriers between Samaritans and Jews had been removed. The church was to be one church, not two separate churches for Jews and Gentiles. At this point in time the apostles had not yet begun to make disciples of all nations. Now they prayed for these baptized Samaritans and laid their hands on them. The sending of the Holy Spirit was a sign that the Samaritans (and other Gentiles) were full-fledged Christians. | ||||||
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