Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 8:4-13

Samson's riddle is here again unriddled: Out of the eater comes forth meat, and out of the strong sweetness. The persecution that was designed to extirpate the church was by the overruling providence of God made an occasion of the enlargement of it. Christ had said, I am come to send fire on the earth; and they thought, by scattering those who were kindled with that fire, to have put it out, but instead of this they did but help to spread it. I. Here is a general account of what was done by... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 8:5-13

8:5-13 Those who were scattered abroad went throughout the country telling the message of the good news. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. The crowds listened attentively to what Philip had to say, as they heard his story and saw the signs which he performed. Many of them had unclean spirits, and the spirits, shouting loudly, came out of them; and many who were paralysed and lame were cured; and there was much rejoicing in that city. A man called... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:8

And there was great joy in that city. Both on a spiritual account, for the good of their souls, through the preaching of Christ and his Gospel to them; and on a temporal account; for the good of their bodies, or their friends, being dispossessed of devils, and healed of their diseases. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:9

But there was a certain man called Simon ,.... Who, as Justin Martyr F6 Apolog. 2. p. 69. says, was a Samaritan, and of a village called Gitton; and so a Jewish writer F7 Juchasin, fol. 242. 2. calls him Simeon, השמרוני , "the Samaritan", a wizard: here is a but upon this new church, the success of the Gospel in this place, and the joy that was there; a man of great wickedness and sophistry plays the hypocrite, feigns himself a believer, and gets in among them; See Gill on ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:8

There was great joy in that city - No wonder, when they heard such glorious truths, and were the subjects of such beneficent miracles. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:9

A certain man called Simon - In ancient ecclesiastical writers, we have the strangest account of this man; they say that he pretended to be the Father, who gave the law to Moses; that he came in the reign of Tiberius in the person of the Son; that he descended on the apostles on the day of pentecost, in flames of fire, in quality of the Holy Spirit; that he was the Messiah, the Paraclete, and Jupiter; that the woman who accompanied him, called Helena, was Minerva, or the first intelligence;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:8

Verse 8 8.The joy whereof he speaketh is a fruit of faith. For it cannot be but that so soon as we know that God will be favorable and merciful our minds shall be wrapt with incomparable joy, and such as doth far pass all understanding, (Philippians 4:7.) read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:9

Verse 9 9.A certain man named Simon. This was such a let that it might seem that the gospel could have no passage to come unto the Samaritans; for the minds of them all were bewitched with Simon’s jugglings. And this amazedness was grown to some strength by reason of long space of time. Furthermore experience teacheth what a hard matter it is to pluck that error out of the minds of men which hath taken root through long continuance and to call them back unto a sound and right mind who are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:1-8

The fruits of persecution. Persecution is Satan's instrument for checking and, if possible, destroying the truth of God. Our Savior reminds us, in the sermon on the mount, how the prophets, who spake to the people in the Name of God, had been persecuted of old; and foretold how the prophets and wise men and scribes whom he would send should, in like manner, be scourged and persecuted, killed and crucified. And the history of the Church, from the first imprisonment of the apostles related... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:1-13

Incidents of persecution and dispersion. I. A GLIMPSE OF SAUL THE PERSECUTOR . Though brief and passing, it is very significant. He was a party to the execution of Stephen. Saul was full of ignorance and blind passion. What he afterwards felt about his conduct is expressed in 1 Timothy 1:3 . This example should be a standing warning to us against trust in mere feeling and enthusiasm. The fumes of anger and violence are no signs of pure glowing zeal for the truth, but rather... read more

Group of Brands