Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 8:19
saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
19. saying, Give me also this power ] The character of the man is shewn by what he asks for. He does not desire the Holy Ghost for himself as a spiritual gift to seal his baptism, but that he may be able to bestow, what he looks upon as a higher power than his own magic, upon others. We can learn from this narrative that the gift of the Holy Ghost had been made apparent by the new powers conferred on those who received it. Their works and words Simon had seen and heard, and hence his application to the Apostles.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Such an extraordinary power of working miracles he did not desire that he might glorify God, or confirm the truths of the gospel (now professed by him); but out of an insatiable desire of gain, and ambition to keep up his reputation, seeing how the apostles had done beyond what he was able to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. that on whomsoever I lay hands,he may receive the Holy GhostSpiritual ambition hereshows itself the key to this wretched man’s character.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Saying, give me also this power,…. He does not ask them to lay their hands on him, that he might receive the Holy Ghost, and have these gifts to exercise himself, but that he might have the power of conferring them on others:
that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost; in which he discovered his ambition and avarice: his ambition, that he might be above Philip; who though he had these gifts, yet had not a power to lay on hands, and thereby convey them unto others; he perceived that this was purely apostolical; and indeed, what he requested was more than what the apostles could do; for though upon their prayers, and through the imposition of their hands, the gifts of the Spirit were bestowed upon men; yet they never could, nor did give a power to others, to do as they did; and his avarice prompted him to this, that he might make gain of it; not by doing miracles himself, but by conveying a power to others to do them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Me also (). This is the whole point with this charlatan. He wants the power to pass on “this power.” His notion of “The Holy Spirit” was on this low level. He regarded spiritual functions as a marketable commodity. Money “can buy diamonds, but not wisdom, or sympathy, or faith, or holiness” (Furneaux).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Saying, Give me also this power,” (dote kamoi ten eksousian tauten) “Give over to me also this (nature of) authority,” to perform miracles or to confer Holy Spirit gifts by the laying on of hands, Act 8:18.
2) “That on whomsoever I lay hands, ‘(hina ho ean tas cheiras) “That (in order that) whoever I lay (my) hands upon,” as Peter and John had done, and Paul did later, Act 8:14; Act 8:17-18; Act 19:6; Heb 6:2.
3) “He may receive the Holy Ghost,” (lambane pneuma hagion) “He may receive Holy Spirit,” Special Holy Spirit power or “.demonstrable gift,” a particular gift of the Spirit; according to their useful ability, 1Co 12:3-11; Eph 4:7-14.
Simon the Sorcerer mistook the true source of the Holy Spirit gifts, because of his carnality, love for money, the root of all evil, 1Co 2:14; 1Ti 6:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Ver. 19. Give me also this power ] Base spirits have low conceits of the high things of God. The stream riseth not above the spring. Omnia Romae venalia; all things at Rome are soluble and saleable.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Act 8:19 . : “that on whomsoever I lay my hands,” i.e. , quite apart from any profession of faith or test of character; no words could more plainly show how completely Simon mistook the essential source and meaning of the power which he coveted.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
power = authority. Greek. exousia. App-172.
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Act 8:19. , power) He himself first ought to have prayed, that the Holy Spirit might be given to him. He wished to become on a level with the apostles, and superior to Philip. Pride is the mother of heresies and abuses, as is evident in the case of Simon the magician, the father of heretics.- , to whomsoever) after baptism, or even without baptism.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Act 8:9-11, Act 8:17, Mat 18:1-3, Luk 14:7-11, Joh 5:44, 1Co 15:8, 1Co 15:9, 3Jo 1:9
Reciprocal: 2Ki 5:20 – Gehazi Pro 1:19 – every Luk 6:45 – and an Luk 12:13 – Master Luk 14:33 – General Luk 23:8 – and he Act 1:8 – ye shall Act 19:13 – took
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9
Act 8:19. Simon was not asking merely for the power to perform ran acles; he might have received that sooner or later as the others di& But he wanted the power that was possessed by the apostles, so he could lay hands on others and give them ability to perform miracles. The sight of the performance of the apostles seemed to arouse his former interest in that which was marvelous, so that he yielded to the temptation and offered to buy that which cannot be valued in “dollars and cents.”
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
See notes on verse 18