Acts 8:10 NIV

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 8:10

To whom they all gave heed ,.... Were not only attentive to the strange things he did, and to the wonderful things he gave out concerning himself; but they believed what he said and did as real things, and were obedient to him: and that from the least to the greatest ; which does not so much respect age, though the Ethiopic version renders it, "from the younger of them to the eldest of them", as state and condition; persons of every rank and quality, high and low, rich and poor,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:10

This man is the great power of God - That is, he is invested with it, and can command and use it. They certainly did not believe him to be God; but they thought him to be endued with a great supernatural power. There is a remarkable reading here in several MSS. which should not pass unnoticed. In ABCDE, several others, together with the Ethiopic, Armenian, later Syriac, Vulgate, Itala, Origen, and Irenaeus, the word καλουμενη is added before μεγαλη , and the passage reads thus, This... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:10

Verse 10 10.For the surname, great power, tendeth to this end, that whatsoever should otherwise be divine might wax vile through this greatness. Therefore the power of Christ appeareth hereby more plainly, in that Philip brake through these lets; which thing Luke amplifieth, 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:5-25

Success and disappointment in Christian work. I. A LARGE MEASURE OF SUCCESS . We must consider: 1. The special obstacles in the way, viz. 2. The means by which success was gained. 3. The magnitude of the success. 4. Confirmation of it, both human and Divine. II. A SERIOUS DISCOURAGEMENT . There is no more disheartening blow which can fall on the heart of an earnest Christian worker than to find that his converts have not really changed their mind, but only... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:9-13

The spirit of lies cast out. Simon an example of the kind of deceivers under whose spell the ancient world was taken captive. Samaria half heathen. "Salvation is of the Jews" (cf. John 4:1-54 .). A striking instance showing that a dim twilight of knowledge is the condition favorable to the growth of falsehood and superstition. They would not have given heed to Simon had they studied the whole Scripture. Yet the gospel found a ready soil because the true wonders could be opposed to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:9-13

Warnings from Simon Magus. "His name indicates a Jewish or Samaritan origin." He appears as the type of a class but too common at the time—that of Jews trading on the mysterious prestige of their race and the credulity of the heathen, claiming supernatural power exercised through charms and incantations. For other illustrations, give account of Etymas ( Acts 13:6 ); the "vagabond Jews, exorcists," at Ephesus ( Acts 19:13 ); the so-called Simon of Cyprus mentioned by Josephus; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:9-24

The first heretic. The appearance of Simon Magus in the list of the first converts to the faith, and his enrolment among the baptized members of the Church, must not be overlooked or passed hastily by, if we would profit by the exhaustive teaching supplied by the Acts of the Apostles for the use of the Church in all ages. When the student of Church history begins his studies expecting to find a record of faith and holiness, and to trace the triumphant victories of truth over falsehood... read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 8:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 8:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:5-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:9-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:9-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 8:9-24

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