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

ACTS 8:16KJV
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Acts 8:16 (KJV)

What does Acts 8:16 mean?

Acts 8:16 explains why Peter and John prayed for the Samaritan believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The people had already been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, but the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them.

The words “he was fallen upon” picture the Spirit coming upon people. The verse is the storyteller’s explanation, placed in parentheses in the KJV, rather than words spoken by Peter or John.

The Greek behind Acts 8:16

  • “fallen” — ἐπιπίπτω (epipiptō): This word can mean to fall upon or come upon someone. Here the image describes the Holy Spirit coming upon the Samaritan believers.
  • “baptized” — βαπτίζω (baptizō): This word carries the sense of dipping or immersing in water. Here it refers to the water baptism the Samaritan believers had received.
  • “name” — ὄνομα (onoma): A name can represent the person named. Baptism “in the name of the Lord Jesus” identifies Jesus with the act, not merely a word spoken during it.

Why Acts 8:16 matters

  • The verse gives the reason for the prayer in verse 15. The opening word “For” connects Peter and John’s prayer with the Samaritans’ situation.
  • The verse distinguishes two events in this account: baptism had already taken place, while the Spirit’s coming was still to occur. Verse 17 goes on to say that the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid their hands on them.
  • “None of them” makes the description apply to the Samaritan believers as a group. The verse is not singling out one person who had been left out.

Where else these words appear

“fallen” Greek G1968 · used in 13 verses

  • Mark 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
  • Acts 10:10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
  • Acts 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

“yet” Greek G3768 · used in 22 verses

  • Matthew 15:17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
  • John 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
  • John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

“were” Greek G5225 · used in 47 verses

  • Luke 7:25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
  • Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
  • Acts 28:18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

“baptized” Greek G907 · used in 65 verses

  • Matthew 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
  • Luke 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
  • Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.