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Selected Verse: Acts 8:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 8:13	Strong Concordance	Then [1161] Simon [4613] himself [846] believed [4100] also [2532]: and [2532] when he was baptized [907], he continued [2258] [4342] with Philip [5376], and [5037] wondered [1839], beholding [2334] the miracles [1411] and [2532] signs [4592] [3173] which were done [1096] [1096].
	King James	Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Then Simon himself believed also--Left without followers, he thinks it best to join the man who had fairly outstripped him, not without a touch of real conviction. and . . . was baptized--What a light does this throw on what is called Baptismal Regeneration! he continued with Philip--"was in constant attendance upon" him.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Then Simon himself believed also--Left without followers, he thinks it best to join the man who had fairly outstripped him, not without a touch of real conviction.

and . . . was baptized--What a light does this throw on what is called Baptismal Regeneration!

he continued with Philip--"was in constant attendance upon" him.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Then Simon himself believed also - That is, he believed that Jesus had performed miracles, and was raised from the dead, etc. All this he could believe in entire consistency with his own notions of the power of magic; and all that the connection requires us to suppose is that he believed this Jesus had the power of working miracles; and as he purposed to turn this to his own account, he was willing to profess himself to be his follower. It might have injured his popularity, moreover, if he had taken a stand in opposition when so many were professing to become Christians. People often profess religion because, if they do not, they fear that they will lose their influence, and be left with the ungodly. That Simon was not a real Christian is apparent from the whole narrative, Act 8:18, Act 8:21-23. And when he was baptized - He was admitted to a "profession" of religion in the same way as others. Philip did not pretend to know the heart; and Simon was admitted because he "professed" his belief. This is all the evidence that ministers of the gospel can now have, and it is no wonder that they, as well Philip, are often deceived. The reasons which influenced Simon to make a profession of religion seem to have been these: (1) An impression that Christianity was "true." He seems to have been convinced of this by the miracles of Philip. (2) the fact that many others were becoming Christians; and "he" went in with the multitude. This is often the case in revivals of religion. (3) he was willing to make use of Christianity to advance his own power, influence, and popularity - a thing which multitudes of men of the same mind with Simon Magus have been willing since to do. He continued ... - It was customary and natural for the disciples to remain with their teachers. See Act 2:42. And wondered - This is the same word that is translated "bewitched" in Act 8:9, Act 8:11. It means that he was amazed that Philip could "really" perform so much greater miracles than "he" had even pretended to. Hypocrites will sometimes be greatly attentive to the external duties of religion, and will be greatly surprised at what is done by God for the salvation of sinners. Miracles and signs - Greek: signs and great powers, or great miracles. That is, so much greater than he pretended to be able to perform.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Then Simon himself believed also - That is, he believed that Jesus had performed miracles, and was raised from the dead, etc. All this he could believe in entire consistency with his own notions of the power of magic; and all that the connection requires us to suppose is that he believed this Jesus had the power of working miracles; and as he purposed to turn this to his own account, he was willing to profess himself to be his follower. It might have injured his popularity, moreover, if he had taken a stand in opposition when so many were professing to become Christians. People often profess religion because, if they do not, they fear that they will lose their influence, and be left with the ungodly. That Simon was not a real Christian is apparent from the whole narrative, Act 8:18, Act 8:21-23.

And when he was baptized - He was admitted to a "profession" of religion in the same way as others. Philip did not pretend to know the heart; and Simon was admitted because he "professed" his belief. This is all the evidence that ministers of the gospel can now have, and it is no wonder that they, as well Philip, are often deceived. The reasons which influenced Simon to make a profession of religion seem to have been these:

(1) An impression that Christianity was "true." He seems to have been convinced of this by the miracles of Philip.

(2) the fact that many others were becoming Christians; and "he" went in with the multitude. This is often the case in revivals of religion.

(3) he was willing to make use of Christianity to advance his own power, influence, and popularity - a thing which multitudes of men of the same mind with Simon Magus have been willing since to do.

He continued ... - It was customary and natural for the disciples to remain with their teachers. See Act 2:42.

And wondered - This is the same word that is translated "bewitched" in Act 8:9, Act 8:11. It means that he was amazed that Philip could "really" perform so much greater miracles than "he" had even pretended to. Hypocrites will sometimes be greatly attentive to the external duties of religion, and will be greatly surprised at what is done by God for the salvation of sinners.

Miracles and signs - Greek: signs and great powers, or great miracles. That is, so much greater than he pretended to be able to perform.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Continued with See on Act 1:14. Miracles and signs (σημεῖα καὶ δυνάμεις) Lit., signs and powers. See on Mat 11:20; Act 2:22. Which were done (γινομένας) The present participle. Lit., are coming to pass. He was amazed After having amazed the people by his tricks. See Act 8:9. The same word is employed.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And Simon believed - That is, was convinced of the truth.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Simon himself believed also - He was struck with the doctrine and miracles of Philip - he saw that these were real; he knew his own to be fictitious. He believed therefore that Jesus was the Messiah, and was in consequence baptized. Continued with Philip, and wondered - ΕξιϚατο, He was as much astonished and confounded at the miracles of Philip as the people of Samaria were at his legerdemain. It is worthy of remark that εξιϚατο comes from the same root, εξιϚημι, as the word εξιϚων, in Act 8:9, and, if our translation bewitched be proper there, it should be retained here; and then we should read, Then Simon himself believed and was baptized, and continued with Philip, being Bewitched, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. We may see, from this circumstance, how improper the term bewitched is, in the 9th and 11th verses.

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¹¹ And [1161] to him [846] they had regard [4337], because [1223] that of long [2425] time [5550] he had bewitched [1839] them [846] with sorceries [3095].

⁹ But [1161] there was a certain [5100] man [435], called [3686] Simon [4613], which beforetime [4391] in [1722] the same city [4172] used sorcery [3096], and [2532] bewitched [1839] the people [1484] of Samaria [4540], giving out [3004] that himself [1438] was [1511] some [5100] great one [3173]:

⁴² And [1161] they continued [2258] stedfastly [4342] in the apostles [652]' doctrine [1322] and [2532] fellowship [2842], and [2532] in breaking [2800] of bread [740], and [2532] in prayers [4335].

²¹ Thou [4671] hast [2076] neither [3756] part [3310] nor [3761] lot [2819] in [1722] this [5129] matter [3056]: for [1063] thy [4675] heart [2588] is [2076] not [3756] right [2117] in the sight [1799] of God [2316].
²² Repent [3340] therefore [3767] of [575] this [5026] thy [4675] wickedness [2549], and [2532] pray [1189] God [2316], if [1487] perhaps [686] the thought [1963] of thine [4675] heart [2588] may be forgiven [863] thee [4671].
²³ For [1063] I perceive [3708] that thou [4571] art [5607] in [1519] the gall [5521] of bitterness [4088], and [2532] in the bond [4886] of iniquity [93].

¹⁸ And [1161] when Simon [4613] saw [2300] that [3754] through [1223] laying on [1936] of the apostles [652]' hands [5495] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] was given [1325], he offered [4374] them [846] money [5536],

²² Ye men [435] of Israel [2475], hear [191] these [5128] words [3056]; Jesus [2424] of Nazareth [3480], a man [435] approved [584] of [575] God [2316] among [1519] you [5209] by miracles [1411] and [2532] wonders [5059] and [2532] signs [4592], which [3739] God [2316] did [4160] by [1223] him [846] in [1722] the midst [3319] of you [5216], as [2531] ye yourselves [846] also [2532] know [1492]:

²⁰ Then [5119] began he [756] to upbraid [3679] the cities [4172] wherein [1722] [3739] most [4118] of his [846] mighty works [1411] were done [1096], because [3754] they repented [3340] not [3756]:

¹⁴ These [3778] all [3956] continued [2258] [4342] with one accord [3661] in prayer [4335] and [2532] supplication [1162], with [4862] the women [1135], and [2532] Mary [3137] the mother [3384] of Jesus [2424], and [2532] with [4862] his [846] brethren [80].