Acts 8:16

16 For up to that time he had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 8:16 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 8:16

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them
They had received him as a spirit of illumination and sanctification, and as, a spirit of conversion and faith; they had been regenerated, enlightened, and sanctified by him; and were converted by him, and brought to believe in Christ, and live, by faith upon him; they were baptized believers, and no more; as yet, none of them had gifts qualifying them for the ministry; and still less could any of them speak with tongues, or prophesy, or work miracles; the Holy Ghost had not yet descended on them for such purposes:

only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus:
all as yet appeared in them was, that they were believers in Christ, and had been baptized in his name, upon a profession of their faith; and more than this they had been called to, or qualified for: the word "only", does not respect the form of baptism, as if they had been baptized only in the name of Christ; whereas they were doubtless baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; but refers to baptism itself, which was the only ordinance as yet administered to them.

Acts 8:16 In-Context

14 Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem had news that the people of Samaria had taken the word of God into their hearts, they sent to them Peter and John;
15 Who, when they came there, made prayer for them, that the Holy Spirit might be given to them:
16 For up to that time he had not come on any of them; only baptism had been given to them in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they put their hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them.
18 Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the touch of the Apostles' hands, he made them an offering of money, saying,
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