Acts 8: 2 and 14-16 show that the people in Samaria ____ before they received the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8: 2 and 14-16 show that the people in Samaria ____ before they received the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

• A. prayed
• B. fasted
• C. believed
• D. were baptized

Answer: (C)

Believing in Christ is the first response to the gospel in this account. When Philip proclaimed the good news in Samaria, many people responded by placing their faith in Jesus and then were baptized in water. Only after the apostles laid hands on them did the Holy Spirit come upon them. So, the action done before receiving the Holy Spirit is belief—the people believed the message, which set the stage for subsequent water baptism and the Spirit baptism. The record doesn’t hinge on praying or fasting here, and while they did get baptized, the sequence that highlights what came first is faith in the gospel.

Believing in Christ is the first response to the gospel in this account. When Philip proclaimed the good news in Samaria, many people responded by placing their faith in Jesus and then were baptized in water. Only after the apostles laid hands on them did the Holy Spirit come upon them. So, the action done before receiving the Holy Spirit is belief—the people believed the message, which set the stage for subsequent water baptism and the Spirit baptism. The record doesn’t hinge on praying or fasting here, and while they did get baptized, the sequence that highlights what came first is faith in the gospel.