Why Did Peter and John Lay Hands on the Samaritans to Have Them Receive the Holy Spirit?
There is an episode in the Book of Acts that seems to teach that the Holy Spirit was not given immediately at the point of salvation, but rather following it: Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). Does not this delay prove that the Holy Spirit is given subsequent to salvation? The fact that there was a delay in the Samaritans’ receiving the Holy Spirit after they were saved is clearly taught. If everyone receives the Holy Spirit upon being saved, why was there a delay in this case? Therefore, it is understandable to see why some would point to this occurrence as a pattern for believers on their experience with the Holy Spirit. Nature
