Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 8:11
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
11. And to him they had regard ] Read, And they gave heed to him. This is an instance of that fondness for change of expression which is so marked a feature of the A. V. The word in the original is exactly the same as in the preceding verse.
of long time he had bewitched [amazed] them with sorceries ] His birthplace was in Samaria, and it is most probable that he had lived there a great part of his life. Tradition ( Clement. Hom. ii. 22) makes him to have been educated in Alexandria, but he is also said to have been a pupil of Dositheus a Gnostic teacher in Samaria, so that he had probably been but a short time away from his native country.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They had regard; they acquiesced in what he said, and yielded obedience unto it; not only attending to his words with their ears, but with their hearts: so true is that which our Saviour says, Joh 5:43, If any man come in his own name, him will ye receive. These Samaritans shall rise up in judgment against most men, who do not thus regard what was said by Christ, and such as he hath sent.
Bewitched them; made them as out of their wits; they were not themselves, and could not act their reason.
With sorceries; such wonders as by the permission of God, and Satans power, he did.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9-13. used sorcerymagicalarts.
some great one . . . thegreat power of Goda sort of incarnation of divinity.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
To him they had regard,…. Which is repeated from the foregoing verse, for the sake of what follows:
because that of a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries; or because he had, it may be for many years, astonished them with his magic arts, and the pranks he played in the use of them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries ( ). Causal use of with the accusative articular infinitive (perfect active Koine form and transitive, ). Same verb as in verse 9 participle and in verse 13 imperfect passive (cf. also 2:7 already). is associative instrumental and instrumental case.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Bewitched. Amazed, as ver. 9
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And to him they had regard,” (proseichon de auto) “Then (in those days) they gave heed to him;” They regarded the magic art feats of Simon to be some superhuman power, the power of a god, of that he was surely a god himself. Such were false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing, Mat 7:15; 1Jn 4:1.
2) “Because that of long time,” (dia to hikano) “Because for a considerable time,” (for an extended period of time), in the city of Samaria.
3) “He had bewitched them with sorceries,” (tais mageiais eksestakenai autous) “He had astonished them by his sorceries,” trickery, deception, or legerdemain, – -by the magic arts similar to those of ancient magicians of Egypt, Exo 7:22; Exo 8:7-19; Exo 9:11. Similar magic arts deceivers bewitched the Babylonians, posing as men with powers of gods, Dan 1:20; Dan 2:2; Dan 2:27-28; Dan 4:7-9.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
11. When he saith that they were astonied, from the least to the greatest. For seeing all men, of what estate soever they were, were deluded, what entrance could the gospel have, especially since it was no mean seducing? for all their senses were besotted. And besides that we see thereby how mighty the truth is, there is also set before us an example of constancy in Philip, who, though he saw no way, yet doth he set hand to the Lord’s work with a valiant courage, waiting for the success which God should give. And thus must we do, we must valiantly attempt whatsoever the Lord commandeth, even when our endeavors seem to be vain. Furthermore, whereas Satan did bewitch the Samaritans, let us know that it is the common punishment of infidelity. All men are not bewitched, indeed, with the jugglings of enchanters, neither are there Simons everywhere, which can so seduce and deceive; but my meaning is, that it is no wonder, (502) if Satan do mock men diversely in the dark; for they are subject to all errors whosoever are not governed by the Spirit of God. Furthermore, when Luke saith that they were all seduced one with another, we are taught that neither wit, neither all that reason and wisdom which we have, are sufficient to avoid the craftiness of Satan withal. And surely we see in what foolish and doting errors they were entangled, who were counted in the world wiser than others.
The great power of God. Therefore Satan abused the name of God to deceive, which is the most pestilent kind of deceiving, so far is it from being any excuse. It hath been said before, that Simon did take to himself the name of the principal power of God, that he might suppress and surpass whatsoever was elsewhere divine, as the sun darkeneth all the stars with his light. This was wicked and ungodly profaning of the name of God. But we read of nothing which was done here, which is not done as yet daily; for men are bent to nothing more than to translate that to Satan which is proper to God. They pretend religion; but what did this pretense help the Samaritans? Therefore it goeth well with us when God setteth forth to us his power in Christ, and declareth therewith that we must not seek the same anywhere else, and doth discover the sleights and juggling casts of Satan, which we must avoid, to the end he may keep us still in himself.
(502) “ Non esse mirum aut insolens,” that it is not strange or unusual.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) And to him they had regard.The Greek word is the same as in the gave heed of the previous verse. The long time during which the evil fascination had been exercised, reckoning backwards from the date which we have now reached (A.D. 34), might carry us to a period prior to our Lords visit to Sychar, in A.D. 30. It is scarcely probable, however, that it was in active operation at that time. And it is likely enough that, finding the people still influenced by the impressions which that visit had left, he wrought on their excited feelings for his own purpose.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Act 8:11. He had bewitched them Had astonished them. Doddridge.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Ver. 11. He had bewitched them with sorcery ] It happened in the year of grace 434, that a certain seducer, who called himself Moses, persuaded the Jews in Crete that he was sent from heaven with commission to repossess them of the Promised Land. Him therefore they gladly followed (a great sort of them) with their wives and children to the seaside; where he bade them to cast themselves after him from a steep rock into the sea. This they did, and there perished many of them; and many more had done, but that (by a providence) sundry were caught up by Christian fishermen there present at that time, and carried safe to land. These, after they were recovered, carried notice to their fellows, how fearfully they had been deluded by the devil, who had impersonated Moses; and various of them, moved by their late calamity, became Christians. In the year 759, certain Persian magicians persuaded themselves and many others, that if they sold all they had and cast themselves naked from the town wall, they should fly up to heaven immediately; perierunt hac insania permulti, saith the historian. Many perished by believing this senseless lie. (Funccius in Chronol.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
11. ] can hardly be as E. V., transitive, “ he had bewitched them :” there appears to be no example of the perfect being thus used.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 8:11 . : dative for accusative, cf. Act 13:20 , and perhaps Luk 8:29 , Rom 16:25 the usage is not classical, Blass, Grammatik , p. 118, but see also Winer-Moulton, xxxi. 9 a . St. Luke alone uses with , both in his Gospel and in Acts (Vogel, Klostermann). : only here in N.T., not found in LXX or Apocryphal books, but used in Theophrastus and Plutarch, also in Josephus. It is found in a striking passage in St. Ignatius ( Ephes. , xix., 3) in reference to the shining forth of the star at the Incarnation, , and it is also mentioned, Didache 1 , v., 1, amongst the things comprised under “the way of death,” and so in Act 2:1 we read . , see above on Act 8:9 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
had regard. Same word as “gave heed” in verses: Act 8:6; Act 8:10.
because that . . . he had. Literally because of (Greek. dia. App-104. Act 8:2) their having been bewitched by.
sorceries = magical arts. Greek. mageia. Only here. Compare mageuo, Act 8:9.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
11.] can hardly be as E. V., transitive, he had bewitched them: there appears to be no example of the perfect being thus used.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 8:11. , they paid attention) The verb is repeated from the preceding verse.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
he had: Isa 8:19, Isa 44:25, Isa 47:9-13, Gal 3:1
Reciprocal: Lev 19:31 – General Jer 27:9 – hearken Rev 13:3 – all Rev 18:23 – for Rev 22:15 – sorcerers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1
Act 8:11. Bewitched is from EXISTEMI which means, “to amaze, astonish, throw into wonderment,” hence it refers to some effect Simon had on the mind and not the body.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 8:11. He had bewitched them with sorceries. Professor Westcott suggests that it would be interesting to inquire how far the magical arts universally attributed to Simon and his followers admit of a physical explanation. In his school, if anywhere, we should look for an advanced knowledge of nature (Hist. of the Canon, chap. 4 sect. i. note, p. 301).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, 1. How long a time this vile sorcerer, by God’s permission, and Stan’s power, wrought these lying wonders among the pepole: He had of a long time bewitched them with sorceries, Act 8:11. Deceivers are not always suddenly detected, and drossy hypocrites are not presently discovered; but the vizor will drop off sooner or later.
Observe, 2. That where the true knowledge of God comes, and the clear light of the gospel shines, there gross impieties and impostures, there cheats and delusions will be found out, detested and abhorred: When they believed Philip’s preaching, they were baptized, both men and women. Where the light shines, Satan falls as lightning; magic vanishes. This Dragon cannot stand before the ark of God: When the people of Ephesus received the gospel; they soom made a bonfire of their magic books, Act 19:19.
Observe, 3. The success of the gospel preached by Philip ; the people believed, and were baptized, both men and women.
Mark , 1. Believed, and then baptized; these were adult, or grown persons, not infants, and they were heathenish idolators, strangers to the covenant; and therefore must believe the gospel, and profess their faith in Christ, before their baptism. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him.
Mark , 2. The persons baptized were women as well as men; When they believed Philip, they were baptized both men and women. Women under the gospel are capable of the seal of the covenant as well as men. Under the law they were not; then they were circumcised in the men: Now they are baptized for themselves: They were baptized both men and women.
Observe, 4. A great and sudden change wrought in Simon himself, by the preaching of Philip; He believed also, and was baptized: Behold, the sorcerer is become a professor a believer, a baptized person. The gospel preached may have a common operation upon a soul, where it never produced inward sanctification. All that are by the gospel proselyted are not savingly converted. All are not good fish that are inclosed in the gospel’s net; but some fish, some trash. As there will be wheat and tares on the same field, chaff and corn on the same floor; so will there be some saints and some sinners in the purest earthly church.
Observe, lastly, Upon a bare profession of faith, Simon Magus is baptized.
Learn thence, That outward profession justly gains admission into the Christian congregation, and gives a person right to external ordinances; De occultis nonjudicat ecclesia. “The church’s judgment is a judgment of charity, not of certainty;” of the outward, not of the inward man; of the life, not of the heart. The faith of Simon Magus was no other than a temporary, historical, yea, hypocritical faith: however, Philip baptizes him upon his making profession of it. An heart hypocrite is no hypocrite (in foro ecclesia) in the sight of the church, though most abominable in the sight of God. Simeon the unsound professor was more edious in the sight of God then Simon the sorcerer.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
See notes on verse 6