Philip in Samaria

By banahtorahStories
Acts: 8:5 – 25

Recently a friend of mine ask me my opinion of the text listed above, except it was parsed down to just verses 14-22. The reason “Do I believe, from this scripture, the laying on of hands is NECESSARY to impart the Holy Spirit.” Please see The Blue Letter Bible as the source for the below listed scriptures.

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Images and/or MapsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
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Images and/or MapsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
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Images and/or MapsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
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Images and/or MapsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
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Images and/or MapsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:17 Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
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Images/HymnsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity.
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No Images or Hymns AvailableVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
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Images and/or MapsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids		 Act 8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Now I will define the names of the individual and places in this portion of scripture.

Philip — meaning fond/friend of horses
Samaria — Watch Station
Simon — Hearing
Jesus — Salvation
Christ — Anointed/Messiah
Peter — Rock
John — YHVH is Gracious

Philip traveled to Samaria (a land told to the disciples by Yeshua, they should not enter into, see Matthew 10:5). But in John 4:1-42 the people of Samaria convert and believe on Jesus. The disciples begin to speak to all people, not just the Jews in Judea, including those in surrounding lands. Philip returns to Samaria after the death of Jesus. He preaches the word of Christ to them; he casts out demons, and heals those with palsies and are lame. There was great joy in the city.

In Samaria, Simon, a sorcerer, had set himself up as a great man of god. The people of the city believed Simon to be a great man. When Philip arrived they returned to Jesus and received through baptism Jesus Christ. Simon also believed and partook of the baptism. He continued with Philip and wondered seeing the miracles and signs performed. Now the apostles in Jerusalem, Peter and John, came to Samaria. When they arrived they prayed the Holy Spirit, which had not yet fallen, be received. Then they laid their hands on those baptized and they received the Holy Spirit.

Simon upon seeing, the imparting of the Holy Spirit, through the laying on of hands, offered Peter and John money. Peter rebuked Simon harshly telling Simon that a gift of YHVH can not be purchased with money. He told him that he had no share or portion in the ministry, because of his request. He told him to repent and pray to have the trouble of his heart be forgiven.

Peter told Simon that he perceived that he has the root of bitterness and in a bond of iniquity. Then Simon answered Peter saying pray to the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me. And they when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord returned to Jerusalem. And they preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

There are many instances in the Bible where the Spirit of YHVH or the Holy Spirit fall on the people without hands being laid upon them. In this case, the Spirit was delayed because the condition of Simon’s heart was being tested. Since he was a sorcerer and set himself up over the people as great, their hearts were also being tested. They once Philip began to witness to them, repented of following Simon and now followed Yeshua. And despite Simon also being baptized, he physically walked in the same steps as the other Samaritans but he did not spiritually change. This is why he wished to purchase the gift for money, as he did not understand that no gift of YHVH can be bought or purchased. Peter rebukes Simon harshly telling him that he has neither portion or lot in this matter, for his heart is not right in the sigh of God. He’s to repent and pray to be forgiven. Simon had “bewitched” the people and therefore his sincerity in his Baptism was being proven. He proved to be false, upon asking for the POWER to impart the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.

The Spirit was delayed to prove to Philip, Peter and John, but primarily the people of Samaria that it’s the condition of one’s heart which YHVH judges a man. We know this from Samuel, when Samuel is to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new King. YHVH tells Samuel, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

I do NOT believe that the laying on of hands is require to impart the Holy Spirit. In this instance, the Holy Spirit is not received right away because Simon’s heart condition must first be dealt with and revealed.

There are many instanced in the Bible where the spirit falls on people without any hands being laid on any person.

See the following verses:

I Samuel 19:23
II Kings 2:15
Matthew 3:16