Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 8]
were nominally Jews, they were not held so by the people. The
sending of Peter and John was no reflection on Philip, but was an
appropriate mission since "many Christian Jews would be
scandalized by the admission of Samaritans" (Furneaux). If Peter
and John sanctioned it, the situation would be improved. John had
once wanted to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village
(Lu 9:54).
8:15 {That they might receive} (\hop•s lab•sin\). Second aorist
active subjunctive of \lamban•\, final clause with \hop•s\. Did
they wish the Samaritan Pentecost to prove beyond a doubt that
the Samaritans were really converted when they believed? They had
been baptized on the assumption that the Holy Spirit had given
them new hearts. The coming of the Holy Spirit with obvious signs
(cf. 10:44-48) as in Jerusalem would make it plain.
8:16 {He was fallen} (\•n epipept•kos\). Periphrastic past
perfect active of \epipipt•\, old verb. The participle is neuter
here because of the grammatical gender of \pneuma\, but the
translation should be "he" (natural gender), not "it." We should
not use "it" for the Holy Spirit. {Only they had been baptized}
(\monon de babaptismenoi hup•rchon\). Periphrastic past perfect
passive of \baptiz•\ with \huparch•\ (see verse 9
\proup•rchon\), instead of \•san\. {Into the name} (\eis to
onoma\). Better, in the name (see on ¯2:38).
8:17 {Laid they their hands} (\epetithesan tas cheiras\).
Imperfect active, repetition. The laying on of hands did not
occur at the great Pentecost (2:4,33) nor in 4:31; 10:44 nor
is it mentioned in 1Co 12; 14. It is mentioned in Ac 6:7
about the deacons and in 13:3 when Barnabas and Saul left
Antioch. And in Saul's case it was Ananias who laid his hands on
him (9:17). Hence it cannot be concluded that the Holy Spirit
was received only by the laying on of the hands of the apostles
or by the hands of anyone. The so-called practice of
"confirmation" appeals to this passage, but inconclusively. {They
received} (\elambanon\). Imperfect active, repetition as before
and \pari passu\ with the laying on of the hands.
8:18 {When Simon saw} (\Id•n de ho Sim•n\). This participle
(second aorist active of \hora•\) shows plainly that those who
received the gift of the Holy Spirit spoke with tongues. Simon
now saw power transferred to others. Hence he was determined to
get this new power. {He offered them money} (\pros•negken
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