Acts 8 · Verse 17

Acts 8:17

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:17, King James Version

Acts 8:17 in other translations

BSBThen Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
WEBThen they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
ASVThen laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
YLTthen were they laying hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
DARBYThen they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
BBEThen they put their hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them.
WebsterThen they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

What does Acts 8:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 8:14-17

14-17. the apostles ... sent Peter and John--showing that they regarded Peter as no more than their own equal.

Read the full comment on Acts 8:14-17 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. Then laid they their hands, etc. This was an act of prayer, expressing an invocation to God that he would impart the blessing to them. On how many they laid their hands is not said. It is evident that it was not on all, for they did not thus lay hands on Simon. Perhaps i.t was done on a few of the more prominent and leading persons, who were to be employed particularly in bearing witness to the truth of the gospel. It was customary to lay the hands on any person when a favour was to be conferred, or a blessing imparted. Mt 9:18.

(c) "laid they their hands" Acts 6:5, Heb 6:2 (+) "Holy Ghost" "Holy Spirit"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Then laid they their hands on them - Probably only on some select persons, who were thought proper for public use in the Church. They did not lay hands on all; for certainly no hands in this way were laid on Simon.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 8:14-25

The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of these coverts, in the extraordinary powers conveyed by the descent of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost. We may take encouragement from this example, in praying to God to give the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost to all for whose spiritual welfare we are concerned; for that includes all blessings. No man can give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands; but we…

Read the full comment on Acts 8:14-25 →

Acts 8:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τότεtoteThenG5119
ἐπετίθεσανepetithesanthey were layingG2007
τὰςtastheG3588
χεῖραςcheirashandsG5495
ἐπ᾽ep᾽uponG1909
αὐτούς,autousthemG846
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐλάμβανονelambanonthey were receivingG2983
πνεῦμαpneuma[the] SpiritG4151
ἅγιον.¶hagionHoly.G40

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 8:17

  • Acts 19:6

    And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

  • Acts 6:6

    Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

  • 2 Timothy 1:6

    Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

  • Acts 8:18

    And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

  • Acts 2:4

    And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

  • Acts 9:17

    And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

  • Hebrews 6:2

    Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

  • Numbers 8:10

    And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

  • Numbers 27:18

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

  • Romans 1:11

    For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

  • 1 Timothy 5:22

    Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

  • 1 Timothy 4:14

    Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
laid.
18; 6:6; 9:17; 13:3; 19:6; Nu 8:10; 27:18; 1Ti 4:14; 5:22; 2Ti 1:6
Heb 6:2
they received.
Ro 1:11; Ga 3:2-5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 8:16

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

  • Acts 8:17

    Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

  • Acts 8:18

    And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Read all of Acts 8

Acts 8:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Entonces les impusieron las manos, y recibieron el Espíritu Santo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Puis ils leur imposèrent les mains, et ils reçurent l’Esprit Saint.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Dann legten sie ihnen die Hände auf, und sie empfingen den Heiligen Geist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Tunc imponebant manus super illos, et accipiebant Spiritum Sanctum.