¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria^(A) had accepted the word of God,^(B) they sent Peter and John^(C) to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,^{(D) 16} because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;^(E) they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^{(F) 17} Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,^(G) and they received the Holy Spirit.^(H)

⁴ Such confidence^(A) we have through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves^(B) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^{(C) 6} He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(D)—not of the letter^(E) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(F)