According to the Bible how does one receive the gift of the Holy Ghost?

Your question:

According to the Bible how does one receive the gift of the Holy Ghost?

Does one automatically receive the Holy Ghost after they accept Christ or does it have to be received through the laying on of hands as spoken of in Acts 8?

There is some of both. The Holy Ghost is needed by all so they can know Jesus is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:3) After one has experienced the first steps of conversion which involve the Holy Ghost, they can receive a more significant gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism (Acts 2:37-38). This is given by the laying on of hands. The laying on of hands is usually done once, but after that the Holy Ghost can be with the recipient again and again.

I'll provide scriptures to illustrate this.

The Holy Ghost acts on us before baptism.

The Holy Ghost guides people to truth. The power of the Holy Ghost can come upon a person before baptism to help them develop faith that Jesus is Christ. In a sense, you might say one can receive the Holy Ghost before baptism. However, this isn't the same as receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism. The latter is more significant and further sanctifies us.

The Spirit guides us to truth.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.(John 16:13).

You can't have faith in Jesus without the influence of the Holy Ghost.

No man can say Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:3)

The Holy Ghost fell on gentiles that heard Peter preach before they were baptized.

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:44-48)

After hearing Peter's preaching that Jesus was the Christ, men who were previously unbelievers were pricked in their hearts.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

After the power of the Holy Ghost helps people to believe, repent, and be baptized, a more significant gift of the Holy Ghost can be received. It is given by the laying on of hands by one with authority.

After being pricked in their hearts by the Spirit which helped them develop faith to want to follow, these men were told to repent and then be baptized and then receive the Holy Ghost.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-38)

After baptism, the laying on of hands leads to receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.(Acts 8:15-17)

Simon recognized the gift of the Holy Ghost was given by the laying on of hands by those with authority/power to do so.

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:18-19)

The first basic truths include repentance and faith, and the doctrines of baptism and the laying on of hands.

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. (Hebrews 6:1-3)

Here's another translation (New Life Version)

So let us leave the first things you need to know about Christ. Let us go on to the teaching that full-grown Christians should understand. We do not need to teach these first truths again. You already know that you must be sorry for your sins and turn from them. You know that you must have faith in God. 2 You know about being baptized and about putting hands on people. You know about being raised from the dead and about being punished forever. 3 We will go on, if God lets us. (Hebrews 6:1-3)

Other verses supporting the gift of the Holy Ghost being given by the laying on of hands include 2 Timothy 1:6, and 1 Timothy 4:14.

The scriptures teach of baptism by water followed by baptism by fire (the Holy Ghost).

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire (Matthew 3:11)

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:5)

This is consistent with this verse.

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

Paul gives people the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands after proper authorized baptism.

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 19:2-6)

Acts 19:2-6 shows how Paul thought it was important that after baptism by water, the believers also receive the gift of Holy Ghost.

Being given the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands after baptism is part of the baptism by fire. Like water baptism, the laying on of hands is usually performed once. However, that doesn't mean this is the only time the recipient feels or is influenced by the Holy Ghost. On the contrary. After receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, they can continually have it.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:6)

Even after being given the gift of the Holy Ghost, it remains for us to receive it.

Being given the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands means it is our right, or privilege to receive it. But we still need to receive it. Even after time passes, we need to be receptive to it.

Believers are told to not quench the Spirit.

19 Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

The Holy Ghost is received by obedience.

32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.(Acts 5:32)

Addition to Answer:

Another point borrowed from another answer is that receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost ties one to the body of Christ. This scripture was cited:

1 Cor. 12:13 For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit.

many factors:

• asking

  Ask and ye shall receive... Mat 7:7

• unity

  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 4:1

baptism, before, during, or after:

• the prophets had the Holy Spirit

  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet 1:21

• during baptism

  And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. Luke 3:22

• after baptism

  KJV - Acts 2,1-4 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The requirement for receiving the Holy Spirit is to believe and be baptized into the Body of Christ

Eph. 1:13 In whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,

Gal. 3:2 This only I wish to learn from you, Did you receive the Spirit out of the works of law or out of the hearing of faith?

1 Cor. 12:13 For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit.

The first mention of the believers receiving the Spirit is actually not the day of Pentecost, but when Jesus resurrected

John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.

He also alluded to this before His crucifixion and subsequent resurrection:

John 7:37-39 37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes into Me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. 39 But this He said concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed into Him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Thus the Spirit was actually made available to the believers upon Christ's resurrection. We can further see this in 2 Cor 15:45b: "the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit." When we believe in the Lord, the Spirit comes into us to regenerate us (that is the definition of salvation). It is only by the Spirit in us that we can be regenerated and called a son of God (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6). Therefore, we know that to be saved is equivalent to having the Spirit within us.

Further, we know that we are saved when we believe in the Lord

Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned.

Rom. 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

From this, we can prove that we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe into the Lord. However, why does other parts of the scriptures mention of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as in Acts 2, Acts 10, Acts 8, etc? Actually, there are two aspects of the Holy Spirit, the essential aspect and the economical aspect. One can liken this to the matter of Jesus' baptism. We know that Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20, Luke 1:35) and is even God Himself, who is Spirit (John 4:24). Yet when He was baptized, it says that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove (Matt 3:16, Luke 3:22). This shows that essentially, Jesus is of the Holy Spirit, meaning that His being is of the Spirit, but He received the Holy Spirit economically at His baptism to start His ministry. The economical Spirit is for our Christian work, whereas the essential Spirit has more to do with our life and being.

The gift of the Holy Spirit economically is received when we are identified with the Body of Christ. In context of all the verses that mention of believers receiving the Spirit, there is the matter of the Body of Christ. For example, in the passage in Acts 8 as the OP mentioned, the believers in Samaria believed into the word and received the Spirit essentially, but they had not yet received the Spirit economically to identify them with the Body of Christ. The reason the Holy Spirit did not fall upon them outwardly and economically was so that the apostles, through whom the practical establishing of the church had been initiated in Jerusalem, might come to bring them into identification with the Body of Christ. This case is different from that of the ones in the house of Cornelius, who, when they believed in the Lord, received the Holy Spirit both essentially within them for regeneration and economically upon them for baptism into the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) and identification with the Body of Christ. That was because the gospel was preached then directly by Peter, who played the main role in the initiation of the practical establishing of the church.

In Acts 8, why is the HS a 'gift'. I think you mean the gifts of the HS. The gift of the HS is given at baptism (Acts 2:38)

Depending on your doctrine, the powers of the HS are awesome!!! (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), like you said, they are given by the Apostles. That is ONLY BY THEM. I cannot find someone other than the Apostles passing the gifts around.

So depending on your doctrine, in Acts 8 Simon realized the gifts were given by the passing of the hands, and he wanted to buy this ability.

*

How does one recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost? At baptism.

Acts 8:15 actually provides the answer:

“Who, when they (Peter & John) were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost”

Prayer is the key ingredient that enabled the reception of the Holy Spirit, however, there is more to the story, because there was one there that believed that the laying on of hands was the agent of release of the Holy Spirit rather than prayer and his name was Simon beginning in verse 9 lets focus on Simon and ultimately Peter’s response:

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries... Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done… And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Simon wanted to subjugate the Holy Spirit to himself. This is always a sign of a false teaching for then God would be confined to the availability of a man for the laying on of hands. We know that Jesus Christ Himself sends the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

So the answer to this question is that prayer was the effective agent and only Simon the Sorcerer believed that it was subject to the laying on of hands.

When Cornelius and his guests received the Holy Spirit it was without laying on of hands and prior to baptism.

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

No, believers do not receive Holy Ghost automatically after they accept Christ or get baptized. These are two separate and important steps. Also laying on of hands not a requirement. Not the physical contact will makes one accepting the Spirit, but it reinforce the ones faith and the Spirit can cooperate with this, so it is better to take part in laying on of hands.

KJV - John 16,7
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

This shows that Jesus didn't let the space behind Him be empty after he gone. He sent the Holy Ghost that is better because it isn't physically limited like Jesus was because of His body during His services in the Earth.

KJV - Acts 2,1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Again receiving the Spirit and baptism is two different act. There can be short time in the between the two but it isn't automatic. The later doesn't follows unconditionally the previous.

KJV - Acts 8,13-15
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

This was just another example, and the following passage will show a requirement.

KJV - Acts 5,32
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

The Spirit is given for those who obey Him. We have to be thirsty there should be a desire for it.

KJV - Acts 19,1-6
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Also in these passages, baptism and taking the Holy Ghost are two different events and we can observe in this and the previous citations too that accepting the Spirit has signs. They started to speak in tongues and prophesied.