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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 8:9 mean?

Explanation

Acts 8:9 introduces a man named Simon, who had previously gained notoriety in the city of Samaria through the practice of sorcery.

The verse highlights that Simon's sorcery had a mesmerizing effect on the people of Samaria, leading them to believe that he possessed great power or divinity.

It suggests that he actively promoted himself as a figure of significance, perhaps implying a sense of self-declared divinity or authority.

This verse sets the stage for a confrontation between Simon's influence derived from sorcery and the spread of the Christian message preached by Philip, one of the early Christians and disciples of Jesus.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Acts of the Apostles is a New Testament book that recounts the early days of the Christian church following the ascension of Jesus.

The book chronicles the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to the Roman Empire.

Sorcery and magic were common in the ancient world, and people often sought out individuals who claimed to possess supernatural powers for guidance, healing, and various types of intervention in their lives.

Samaria had a complex relationship with Jewish people; Samaritans were ethnically and religiously distinct, and there was mutual hostility between them and their Jewish neighbors.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Simon's sorcery is seen as a false and potentially demonic power in stark contrast to the true and divine power of God demonstrated by the disciples through miracles and the spreading of the gospel.

The verse might caution against being led astray by those who boast of personal greatness or supernatural abilities that are not from God. This narrative serves as a backdrop to the transformative power of faith in Christ and the confrontation between Christian truth and other spiritual claims.

Practical Applications

This verse has relevance for believers today in discerning between truth and deception.

In a modern context, Simon's desire to be seen as "some great one" could be likened to the pursuit of fame, influence, or power without genuine substance or integrity.

Christians are reminded to be wary of following or idolizing individuals based on their claims to greatness or authority, outside of an alignment with Christian teaching and values.

Cross-References

Acts 8:10-11: "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."

2 Thessalonians 2:9: “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”
Revelation 19:20: “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.

These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Language Study

Key words in this verse are "sorcery" and "bewitched." Sorcery, translated from the Greek word "mageia," which also gives us the word "magic," refers to the practice of using supernatural powers or knowledge of hidden things for manipulating or predicting events.

"Bewitched," from the Greek "existemi," can mean to amaze or astonish and implies that Simon had caused the people to be astounded or confused by his acts, possibly leading them to believe in his powers.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Simon's self-promotion as a great one could be compared to various figures in ancient religions and myths that were believed to wield supernatural powers, such as the gods of Greco-Roman pantheons or the wise men and magicians in ancient Egyptian or Mesopotamian cultures.

In many ancient societies, individuals like Simon would often hold significant sway over the public and were sometimes even revered as divine or semi-divine beings.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the historical claims of sorcery and magic are generally placed within the framework of psychology and sociology.

Magical practices can be examined as part of the cultural and religious beliefs of a society, and modern psychology would often interpret the effects of Simon's sorcery on the people as a result of suggestion, placebo effect, or psychological influence rather than actual supernatural power.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians often interpret this passage as highlighting the danger of false teachers and the seductive power of counterfeit spirituality.

Many agree that Simon is an archetype of those who would use religion or spirituality for self-aggrandizement rather than to serve God.

Furthermore, commentaries might point out the transition from old beliefs to the emerging Christian faith and how the apostles were confronting opposing ideologies.

Simon's story further unfolds in the subsequent verses, eliciting discussion about his eventual belief and subsequent mistakes, which are also widely commented upon by experts.

Acts 8

Acts 8

What does Acts 8:9 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 8:9 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?