Acts 8:14-19 - Give me this ability

8:14-17

On hearing what was happening, the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to Samaria. They would have realised that the next step in Jesus’ commission to the church was now taking place, ie the gospel taking root in Samaria. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon the Samaritans. There are various suggestions as to why this was the case, the most likely seems to be that God wanted the apostles to be instrumental in this to stress the unity of the gospel. Whatever the case, the key thing is that the Holy Spirit is in charge, we are never in charge of Him! So Peter and John  placed their hands upon the believers and they received the Holy Spirit. Note the tacit implication that there was some outward manifestation of receiving the Holy Spirit, it was not a mere theological thing, there was a visible effect. Presumably praying in tongues and prophesying.

8:18,19

The lack of any deep change in Simon seems evident by his reaction to seeing the apostles laying on hands on people. Again, we should note that something positive and observable happened. Simon also wanted the ability to lay hands on people and seem them receive the Holy Spirit, and he was willing to pay money for this ability. He betrays a total lack of understanding, and a lack of a change of heart. It isn’t clear whether Simon had received the Holy Spirit. One would suspect not from his reaction, though we cannot be certain. We do know he “believed and was baptised” (v13). What we can be sure of is that there is a need for repentance. This can happen before or after conversion, or some spiritual experience. God is not overly fussy on the order of things, but it does need to happen.