The word χολή, 'gall,' occurs in Matthew 27:34 . and the word for ' bitterness,' πικρία,in Romans 3:14; Ephesians 4:31; Hebrews 12:15 . The translation in Acts 8:23 is literal, except that it should be ' a gall of bitterness.' Peter saw that Simon was still in the state of nature which is only bitterness.