Bible Commentaries
Acts 8

Verse 1

consenting unto = approving of. Greek. suneu-dokeo. Only here, Acts 22:20 . Luke 11:48 . Romans 1:32 . 1Co 7:12 , 1 Corinthians 7:13 . Compare John 16:2

death. Greek. anairesis = taking off. Only here and Acts 22:20 Compare anaireo, Acts 2:23 , &c. This clause belongs to the previous chapter.

at = en. App-104

time = day

was = arose

church. App-186

scattered abroad. Greek. diaspeiro. Only here, Acts 8:4 ; Acts 11:19 . Compare diaspora. James 1:1 . 1 Peter 1:1

throughout. Greek. kata. App-104

regions = districts

except. Greek. plen.

the apostles. They remained at the center of affairs, to watch over the infant assemblies Compare Acts 8:14 . See App-189

Verse 2

devout. Greek. eulabes. See note on Acts 2:5 .

carried . . . to his burial. Literally carried away together Greek. sunkomizo Only here.

lamentation. Greek. kopetos. Only here.

Verse 3

As for = But.

made havock of. Greek. lumainoimai. Only here

every house. Greek. kata App-104 tous oikous = house by house

haling = dragging Gr . suro. See note on John 21:8 .

women. Compare Acts 1:14 ; Acts 5:14 .

prison. Greek. phulake. See Acts 5:19

Verse 4

Therefore, &c. = They therefore indeed.

went every where. Lit passed through. Greek. dierchomai. Occ forty-three times, thirty-one times in Luke and Acts.

preaching. Greek. euangelizo. App-121 .

word. Greek. logos. App-121 .

Verse 5

preached. Greek. kerusso. App-121 .

Christ. i.e. the Messiah App-98 .

unto = to

Verse 6

people = crowds. Greek. ochlos.

with one accord. Greek. homothumadon. See note on Acts 1:14 .

gave heed. Same word as "take heed in Acts 5:35 , and "attended" in Acts 16:14 .

which Philip spake = spoken by hupo. App-104 Philip.

hearing, &c. Literally in that they heard and saw (Greek. blepo. App-133 )

miracles = Greek. semeion. App-176

did = was doing

Verse 7

spirits. App-101

taken with palsies = paralytic. Greek. paraluomai. Only here, Acts 9:33 Luke 5:18 , Luke 5:24 .Hebrews 12:12 . (feeble)

healed. Greek. therapeuo. App-137

Verse 8

was = came to be.

Verse 9

certain. Greek. tis. App-123 .

called. Literally by name

beforetime . . . used sorcery Literally before was (Greek. prouparcho Luke 23:12 ) practicing magic (Greek. mageuo, to act as a magos. Only here. Compare Acts 13:6 , Acts 13:8 . Matthew 2:1 , Matthew 2:7 , Matthew 2:16 ).

same. Omit

and bewitched = bewitching Greek. existemi, to drive out of one's senses. In middle voice, to be amazed. Compare Acts 2:7 , Acts 2:12 .Mark 3:21 2 Corinthians 5:13

people. Greek. ethnos, nation

giving out = saying

some = a certain tis. App-123

Verse 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 .

Verse 11

had regard. Same word as "gave heed" in verses: Acts 8:6 ; Acts 8:10 .

because that . . . he had. Literally because of (Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 8:2; Acts 8:2 ) their having been bewitched by.

sorceries = magical arts. Greek. mageia. Only here. Compare mageuo, Acts 8:9 .

Verse 12

believed. App-150 .

the things. The texts omit.

concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .

the kingdom of God. App-112 and App-114 .

name. Compare Acts 3:6 .

Jesus Christ. App-98 .

baptized. App-115 .

Verse 13

believed also = also believed. App-150 .

continued = was continuing. Greek. proskartereo. See note on Acts 1:14 .

wondered = was amazed, or dumbfounded. Middle of existemi. Compare "bewitched", Acts 8:9 .

beholding. Greek. theoreo. App-133 .

miracles. Greek. dunamis. App-176 .

signs. Greek. semeion. App-176 . The Authorized Version reverses the translation here. "Miracles and signs" should be "signs and powers, or mighty works". The texts add "great".

Verse 14

sent. Greek. apostello. App-174 .

Verse 15

prayed. Greek. proseuchomai. App-134 .

for = concerning. Greek. peri , as in Acts 8:12 .

the Holy Ghost = holy spirit. Greek. pneuma hagion. No article. App-101 .

Verse 16

none = no one. Greek. oudeis. There is a double negative in the sentence.

were = had been. Greek. huparcho See Luke 9:48 .

baptized in = baptized into. App-115 .

Jesus. App-98 . See App-185 .

Verse 17

on = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

received = were receiving, i.e. continuing to receive.

Verse 18

saw. Greek. theaomai. App-133 . The texts read eidon. App-133 .

through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 8:1 .

the Holy Ghost. to pneuma to hagion. Both articles, because referring to what has been already spoken of in Acts 8:15 .

was = is.

Verse 19

power = authority. Greek. exousia. App-172 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

Verse 20

perish. Literally be unto (Greek. eis) destruction (Greek. apoleia) . See John 17:12 . Peter's indignant words are an instance of Figure of speech Apodioxis. App-6 .

with. Greek. sun . App-104 .

that, &c. = to purchase.

gift = free gift. Greek. dorea. See Acts 2:38 .

with = through. Greek. diet. App-104 .Acts 8:1 .

Verse 21

neither = not. Greek. ou.

lot. Greek. kleros. Compare Acts 1:17 , Acts 1:25 , Acts 1:26 .

matter = reckoning, or account. Greek. logos. App-121 .

not. Greek. ou, as above.

in the sight of = in the eyes of. Greek. enopion. But the texts read enanti, before.

Verse 22

Repent. Greek. metanoeo. App-111 .

of = from. Greek. apo.

wickedness. Greek. kakia. App-128 .

pray. Greek. deomai. App-134 .

God. App-98 . The texts read "Lord".

if. Greek. ei. App-118 .

thought. Greek. epinoia. Only here.

may = shall.

forgiven. Greek. aphiemi. App-174 .

Verse 23

perceive = see. Greek. horao. App-133 .

gall. Greek. chole. Only here and Matthew 27:34 . Compare Deuteronomy 29:18 .

bitterness. Greek. pikria. Here, Romans 3:14 .Ephesians 4:31 .Hebrews 12:15 .

bond. Greek. sundesmos. Here, Ephesians 4:3 .Colossians 2:19 ; Colossians 3:14 . A medical word for a ligature.

iniquity. Greek. adikia. App-128 .

Verse 24

answered, &c. App-122 .

to. Greek. pros.

none = not one. Greek. medeis.

upon. Greek. epi. App-104 . From this incident comes the term "simony" for traffic in sacred things.

Verse 25

And they. Literally They indeed therefore.

testified . Greek. diamarturomai, i.e. fulfilled their testimony. Compare Acts 2:40 .

preached = spoke. Greek. laleo. App-121 .

preached the gospel in = evangelized. Greek. euangelizo. App-121 .

villages. Once John had wished to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village. Luke 9:54 .

Verse 26

And = But.

the = an.

spake. Greek. laleo, as Acts 8:25 .

Arise. Greek. anistemi. App-178 .

towards = down to. Greek. kata . App-104 .

unto. Greek. epi.

unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Gaza. One of the five cities of the Philistines; destroyed by Alexander.

Verse 27

behold. Greek. idou. App-133 .

of great authority = a potentate. Greek. dunastes. App-98 .

under = of.

Candace. A title of the queens of Ethiopia. Compare Pharaoh.

queen. Greek. basilissa. Only here, Matthew 12:42 .Luke 11:31 .Revelation 18:7 .

had the charge of = was over (Greek. epi . App-104 .)

treasure. Greek. gaza. Only here.

worship. Greek. proskuneo. App-137 .

Verse 28

in = upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .

Verse 29

Then = And.

the Spirit , i.e. the angel. App-101 .

join thyself. Greek. kollaomai. See note on Acts 5:13 .

Verse 30

And. Same as "Then", Acts 8:29 .

ran thither to him, and. Literally having run up.

Understandest. Greek. ginosko. App-132 . Figure of speech Paregmenon. App-6 . "Read" is anaginosko.

Verse 31

except. Literally If ( App-118 .) . . . not ( App-105 ).

some man = some one. Greek. tis . App-123 .

guide me = lead me in the way. Greek. hodegeo. Only here, Matthew 15:14 .Luke 6:39 . John 16:13 .Revelation 7:17 .

desired = besought. Greek. parakaleo. App-134 .

Verse 32

The place = Now the context. Greek. perioche. Only here. Quoted from Isaiah 53:7 , almost word for word from the Septuagint

slaughter. Greek. sphage. Only here, Romans 8:36 . James 5:5 .

lamb. Greek. amnos. See note on John 1:29 .

dumb. Greek. aphonos, voiceless. Only here, 1Co 12:2 ; 1 Corinthians 14:10 . 2 Peter 2:16 . The usual word in the Gospels is kophos.

his shearer = the one shearing (Greek. keiro) him.

Verse 33

humiliation = low estate. Referring to the whole period of His life on earth. Greek. tapeinosis. Only here, Luke 1:48 . Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:21 .James 1:10 .

judgment. Greek. krisis. App-177 .

declare = tell. Greek. diegeomai. Only here, Acts 9:27 ; Acts 12:17 . Mark 5:16 ; Mark 9:9 . Luke 8:39 ; Luke 9:10 . Hebrews 11:32 .

generation = posterity. Greek. genea. Compare Matthew 1:17 . See also Daniel 9:26 , "have nothing" (Revised Version) John 12:24 , "alone".

for = because.

life. Greek. zoe. App-170 .

earth. Greek. ge. App-129 .

Verse 35

Then = But.

opened his mouth. A Hebraism. Figure of speech Idioma. App-6 .

at = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

the same = this.

Verse 36

On = down. Greek. kata. App-104 .

See = Behold. Greek. idou. App-133 .

Verse 37

Most texts omit this verse. The Revised Version puts it in the margin.

with = out of. Greek. ek.

Son. Greek. huios . App-108 . See also App-98 .

Verse 38

into. Greek. eis.

Verse 39

Out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

saw. Greek. eidon. App-133 .

no more. Greek. ouk ouketi, a double negative.

and = for. Supply ellipsis , taught by the Spirit, he needed him not.

went on his way = went his way.

rejoicing. Compare Acts 8:8 .

Verse 40

was found = was carried to, and found. A constructioproegnans.

at = to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Azotus. = Ashdod. See Joshua 11:22 .

till. Greek. heos.

Caeserea. Not Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13 ), but the place on the coast, between Carmel and Joppa. It was built by Herod, and called Caesarea Sebaste, in honour of Augustus (Greek. Sebastoa) Caesar. Herod built a mole or breakwater, so as to make a harbour (Josephus, Antiquities XVI, 8, 1). Now a ruin.