As you move on to Acts 8, you won't find the least suggestion that the people of Samaria were taught to tarry for the Holy Ghost. These people believed in Jesus, got saved, and were baptized. Then the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had received the Word of God and sent unto them Peter and John. When Peter and John came down to Samaria, they laid hands on them and prayed for
them, and the Samaritans received the Holy Ghost. There is no mention whatsoever that the Samaritan believers tarried before they were able to receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit.
The same is true for Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul. We already looked at what happened when Saul was filled with the Holy Ghost. But let's look again at Acts 9:17.
We see Ananias arriving at the house where Saul had been waiting and praying for three days, ever since his conversion on the road to Damascus.
ACTS 9:17
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.
Ananias knew nothing at all about Saul's spiritual condition other than the fact that Saul had been praying, because the Lord had told that to Ananias in a vision (Acts 9:11). Yet it seems that there was no doubt in Ananias' mind that Saul would receive the Holy Spirit at the moment he laid hands on Saul. There is no suggestion of Saul needing to tarry or wait to be filled with the Holy Ghost either, yet Saul probably didn't know a thing in the world about the Holy Ghost until Ananias came and laid hands on him!
Then in Acts 10, we see that Cornelius and his household didn't have to tarry at all to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
ACTS 10:44-46
44 WHILE Peter yet spake these words, THE HOLY GHOST FELL ON ALL THEM [in Cornelius' household] 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. . . .
Those in attendance at Cornelius' household were all Gentiles. They were not saved until Peter came and preached to them.
ACTS 11:13-14
13 And he [Cornelius] shewed us [Peter and his Jewish companions] how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, WHEREBY THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE SHALL BE SAVED.
Cornelius and his household were saved as Peter preached to them.
That means they received salvation and were baptized in the Holy Ghost almost simultaneously! When people first get saved is often the best and easiest time in the world to get them filled with the Holy Ghost.
No one laid hands on the people of Cornelius' household, yet they all received the Holy Ghost virtually at the same time. Not one in the room failed to receive.
As we noted earlier, it was these Gentiles' speaking with other tongues that fully convinced Peter's Jewish company that the Gentile believers had received the Holy Spirit. The Jewish brethren were astonished that the Holy Ghost had been poured on the Gentiles. But let me stress again: The fact that these Gentiles immediately began to speak with tongues and magnify God indicates that these people did not tarry or wait even for a moment to be filled with the Holy Ghost!
Finally, let's go on to Acts 19 and see if the believers Paul met in Ephesus had to tarry to receive the Holy Ghost.
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.
As we saw earlier, these were Gentile believers who were walking in the little bit of spiritual light they had. Then Paul baptized them in the Name of the Lord Jesus. But Paul didn't stop there! He also got them filled with the Holy Ghost.
Here is the point I want you to see for this discussion: The moment Paul laid his hands upon these new converts, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. They all received the Holy Ghost without exception and without the slightest suggestion of tarrying!