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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:9-24

The type of one stricken with religion-blindness. It may be at once allowed that it were difficult to measure with any exactness the amount of moral guilt in Simon Magus. Happily we are not called to do this. That we cannot do it will not hinder our noticing the phenomena of what may well strike upon our own knowledge and our own light as an amazing development of the very obliquity itself of moral or spiritual vision. Confessedly with most various amount and kind of effect does the glory... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:10

That power of God which is called Great for the great power of God, A.V. and T.R. That power of God , etc. The revised text inserts καλουμένη before μεγάλη . Origen says of Simon that his disciples, the Simoniaus, called him "The Power of God." ('Contra Cels.,' lib. 5:62, where see Delarue's note). According to Tertullian ('De Anima'), he gave himself out as the supreme Father, with other blasphemies. According to St. Jerome on Matthew 24:5 , he speaks of himself in different... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:10

The great power of God - Probably this means only that they believed that he was “invested with” the power of God, not that they supposed he was really the Great God. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 8:9-11

Acts 8:9-11. But there was, &c. At the time when the gospel was thus brought to them by Philip, a man was there, called Simon, which before- time in the same city used sorcery Greek, had been μαγευων , using magic arts. Some think the expression is entirely of the same signification with the word μαγος , and is intended to tell us, that this Simon was one of the sect of the magi; (see on Matthew 2:1;) and it is possible he might profess himself of that sect: but certainly the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 8:4-25

8:4-9:31 THROUGHOUT PALESTINE AND BEYONDChristianity enters Samaria (8:4-25)In the time of the Roman Empire, the region of Samaria was the central part of Palestine and along with the neighbouring region of Judea was governed from Caesarea. The origins of the Samaritans go back to Old Testament times, when Samaria was the name of the chief city of the region.After Assyria had conquered the central and northern parts of Israel and taken the people into captivity (722 BC), it moved people from... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 8:10

from. Greek. apo . App-104 . least, &c. Literally little unto great. This man = This one. power. Greek. dunamis. App-172 . God App-98 . He thus assumed to be the Divine Logos. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:24 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 8:10

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.Nothing is any more pitiful than the delusions which blind whole cities and populations of mankind. Simon was an unqualified fraud; but, until the coming of the gospel, his evil influence dominated the whole city, "from the least to the greatest." Nor does modern man have any right to despise the Samaritans for their gullibility, because there are many examples in our own... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 8:10

Acts 8:10. This Man is the great power of God— "The long expected Messiah, and, if we may so speak, Omnipotence itself incarnate, or he could never do such wonderful things." Doddridge. If we believe Justin Martyr, almost all the Samaritans, and not a few other nations, adored him; acknowledged him to be as it were the supreme Deity. See the former note. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:10

10. To whom all gave heed . . . because of long time he had bewitched them—This, coupled with the rapidity with which they deserted him and attached themselves to Philip, shows the ripeness of Samaria for some religious change. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 8:1-25

1. The evangelization of Samaria 8:1-25The first part of Philip’s important witness took place in Samaria. Luke recorded the cause of Philip’s ministry there (Acts 8:1-3), its nature (Acts 8:4-8), and its effects (Acts 8:9-24). read more

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