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Acts 8

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

And there was great joy in that city.

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.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

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.

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

What does Acts 8:11 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:11 speaks about a man named Simon who had previously practiced sorcery in the city of Samaria, and had amazed the people there, claiming to be someone great.

The people ranging from the least to the greatest had given attention to him because for a long time he had astonished them with his magical practices.

The literal understanding of this verse is that Simon had established a significant influence over the people through his use of sorcery, which they may have misinterpreted as divine power or a supernatural gift.

The deeper meaning could be seen as a caution against being misled by individuals who use manipulations or deceptive practices to gain power and influence.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The verse comes from the story of Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8:9-24. This passage is set in the early Christian church's period, shortly after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.

It was a time of great evangelism and expansion for the early Christian faith, but also one where new converts from various backgrounds were bringing with them practices and beliefs that were contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

Simon’s influence and the attention given to him are indicative of the prevalence of magical practices in ancient Samaria and the broader Roman world at that time.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse highlights the conflict between Christian truth and what is considered sorcery or false miracles.

It serves as a reminder that not all supernatural occurrences come from God and underscores the need for discernment among believers.

Different denominations may interpret this example in various ways:

Some may see it as a warning against the occult and any engagement with practices considered outside of Christian teaching.
Others might view it as an example of the transformative power of the Gospel, as Simon later professes belief in Christ.
It also serves as a testament to the power of the apostolic message and the Holy Spirit to overcome any false teachings.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 8:11 warns individuals about the dangers of being seduced by those who claim to have extraordinary powers or insights but whose source is not from God.

It teaches the importance of wisdom and the need to test every spirit.

For daily life, this verse encourages believers to seek understanding and be grounded in the Scriptures, to avoid being deceived by false teachings or impressive displays that lack a foundation in Christian truth.

Cross-References

Acts 8:9-10: "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, claiming that he was some great one"
2 Thessalonians 2:9: "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders"
1 John 4:1: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Deuteronomy 18:10-12: "There shall not be found among you any one that...useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of Acts 8:11 include:

"bewitched" (ἐξίστημι - existēmi): To amaze or astonish, also to throw out of position.
"sorceries" (μαγείᾳ - mageia): The use of magical arts, often with the implication of deception and manipulation.

These words highlight the method by how Simon captured the attention of the people: by causing amazement, which may possibly be through deceptive means.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader ancient cultural context, the practice of magic and sorcery was common in many societies, including the Roman Empire and surrounding regions.

Many ancient myths include figures with similar capabilities to Simon, individuals who could perform wonders or interpret omens.

Within the Greco-Roman world, magical practices were often intermixed with religious rituals, making the line between accepted religious practice and sorcery sometimes blurred.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science would view claims of sorcery and magic as superstition or illusion, lacking empirical evidence or repeatable mechanisms.

Psychological explanations might be offered for how people can be deceived by tricks or suggestions.

There is also a field of study called anomalistic psychology that investigates paranormal claims and looks at psychological factors that might explain why people believed Simon's sorcery to be genuine.

Commentaries

Commentators vary in their perspectives on this verse in Acts:

Some focus on the gullibility of people and their fascination with the spectacular, which is as relevant today as it was then.
Others emphasize the importance of the apostolic testimony which directly confronted and overcame the false claims of Simon.
Some also discuss how this incident illustrates the broader struggle in the early church to separate itself from pagan practices and establish a clear Christian identity.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 8:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?