Although baptised, the believers in Samaria have not yet received the Holy Spirit. Only through the prayer of the apostles from Jerusalem do they receive the Holy Spirit.

This is where something new begins: not only Jews believe in Jesus, but also half-Jews.

This could have been the reason why the Holy Spirit only came to the believers in a conscious step and through the apostles Peter and John. The laying on of hands by the apostles connects the Jesus movement in Samaria with the church in Jerusalem.

Paul describes the sign of the Holy Spirit as follows: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace; patience, kindness and goodness; faithfulness, forbearance and self-control“ (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Holy Spirit also gives us a longing for God: “Lord, I long for you!” (Psalm 25:1).

He gives a childlike trust in God. Galatians 4:6: “But because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!”

And an inner certainty (Romans 8:16: “God’s Spirit himself gives us the inner certainty that we are God’s children.”)

more from Acts: https://jesus-news-israel.net/tag/acts/