This sermon addresses doctrine surrounding baptism and the Holy Spirit. While baptism is necessary for receiving the Holy Spirit for anyone of age, the book of Acts has two exceptions, the Samaritans and Cornelius. The Samaritans needed the laying of hands in order to enter them into the covenant for the first time, because of their past hateful relationship with Israel. Additionally, Cornelius the Gentile received the Holy Spirit before his baptism to symbolize the new entry that Gentiles may have in the covenant. Both these instances are the first recorded conversions of Samaritan or Gentile into the new covenant, and so prove exceptions in the Holy Spirit doctrine.