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Selected Verse: Acts 8:23 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 8:23	Strong Concordance	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].
	King James	For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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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]
in the gall of bitterness and . . . bond of iniquity--expressing both the awfulness of his condition and the captivity to it in which he was held.

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

in the gall of bitterness and . . . bond of iniquity--expressing both the awfulness of his condition and the captivity to it in which he was held.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For I perceive - That is, by the act which he had done. His offer had shown a state of mind that was wholly inconsistent with true religion. One single sin "may" as certainly show that there is no true piety as many acts of iniquity. It may be so decided, so malignant, so utterly inconsistent with just views as at once to determine what the character is. The sin of Simon was of this character. Peter here does not appear to have claimed the power of judging the "heart"; but he judged, as all other people would, by the act. In the gall - This word denotes properly "bile," or "that bitter, yellowish-green fluid that is secreted in the liver." Hence, it means anything very bitter; and also any bad passion of the mind, as anger, malice, etc. We speak of "bitterness" of mind, etc. Of bitterness - This is a Hebraism; the usual mode of expressing the "superlative," and means "excessive bitterness." The phrase is used respecting idolatry Deu 29:18, "Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood." A similar expression occurs in Heb 12:15, "Lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you." "Sin" is thus represented as a "bitter" or poisonous thing; a tiring not only "unpleasant" in its consequences, but ruinous in its character, as a poisonous plant would be in the midst of other plants, Jer 2:19, "It is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God"; Jer 4:18; Rom 3:14, "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; Eph 4:31. The meaning here is, that the heart of Simon was full of dreadful, malignant sin. Bond of iniquity - Or, that thou art "bound by" iniquity. That is, that it has the rule over you, and "binds" you as a captive. Sin is often thus represented as "bondage" and "captivity," Psa 116:16; Pro 5:22, "He shall be holden with the cords of his sins"; Rom 7:23-24. These expressions prove conclusively that Simon was a stranger to religion.

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

For I perceive - That is, by the act which he had done. His offer had shown a state of mind that was wholly inconsistent with true religion. One single sin "may" as certainly show that there is no true piety as many acts of iniquity. It may be so decided, so malignant, so utterly inconsistent with just views as at once to determine what the character is. The sin of Simon was of this character. Peter here does not appear to have claimed the power of judging the "heart"; but he judged, as all other people would, by the act.

In the gall - This word denotes properly "bile," or "that bitter, yellowish-green fluid that is secreted in the liver." Hence, it means anything very bitter; and also any bad passion of the mind, as anger, malice, etc. We speak of "bitterness" of mind, etc.

Of bitterness - This is a Hebraism; the usual mode of expressing the "superlative," and means "excessive bitterness." The phrase is used respecting idolatry Deu 29:18, "Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood." A similar expression occurs in Heb 12:15, "Lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you." "Sin" is thus represented as a "bitter" or poisonous thing; a tiring not only "unpleasant" in its consequences, but ruinous in its character, as a poisonous plant would be in the midst of other plants, Jer 2:19, "It is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God"; Jer 4:18; Rom 3:14, "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness"; Eph 4:31. The meaning here is, that the heart of Simon was full of dreadful, malignant sin.

Bond of iniquity - Or, that thou art "bound by" iniquity. That is, that it has the rule over you, and "binds" you as a captive. Sin is often thus represented as "bondage" and "captivity," Psa 116:16; Pro 5:22, "He shall be holden with the cords of his sins"; Rom 7:23-24. These expressions prove conclusively that Simon was a stranger to religion.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
In the gall (εἰς χολὴν) Lit., into. Thou hast fallen into and continuest in. Gall, only here and Mat 27:34. Gall of bitterness is bitter enmity against the Gospel. Bond of iniquity (σύνδεσμον ἀδικίας) Thou hast fallen into iniquity as into fetters. The word σύνδεσμον denotes a close, firm bond (σύν, together). It is used of the bond of Christian peace (Eph 4:3); of the close compacting of the church represented as a body (Col 2:19); and of love as the bond of perfectness (Col 3:14 :). See Isa 58:6.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The gall of bitterness - A Hebraism for excessive bitterness: gall, wormwood, and such like, were used to express the dreadful effects of sin in the soul; the bitter repentance, bitter regret, bitter sufferings, bitter death, etc., etc., which it produces. In Deu 29:18, idolatry and its consequences are expressed, by having among them a root that beareth Gall and Wormwood. And in Heb 12:15, some grievous sin is intended, when the apostle warns them, lest any root of Bitterness springing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Bond of iniquity - An allusion to the mode in which the Romans secured their prisoners, chaining the right hand of the prisoner to the left hand of the soldier who guarded him; as if the apostle had said, Thou art tied and bound by the chain of thy sin; justice hath laid hold upon thee, and thou hast only a short respite before thy execution, to see if thou wilt repent.

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²³ But [1161] I see [991] another [2087] law [3551] in [1722] my [3450] members [3196], warring against [497] the law [3551] of my [3450] mind [3563], and [2532] bringing [163] me [3165] into captivity [163] to the law [3551] of sin [266] which [3588] is [5607] in [1722] my [3450] members [3196].
²⁴ O wretched [5005] man [444] that I am [1473]! who [5101] shall deliver [4506] me [3165] from [1537] the body [4983] of this [5127] death [2288]?

²² His own iniquities [05771] shall take [03920] the wicked [07563] himself, and he shall be holden [08551] with the cords [02256] of his sins [02403].

¹⁶ O LORD [03068], truly [0577] I am thy servant [05650]; I am thy servant [05650], and the son [01121] of thine handmaid [0519]: thou hast loosed [06605] my bonds [04147].

³¹ Let [142] all [3956] bitterness [4088], and [2532] wrath [2372], and [2532] anger [3709], and [2532] clamour [2906], and [2532] evil speaking [988], be put away [142] from [575] you [5216], with [4862] all [3956] malice [2549]:

¹⁴ Whose [3739] mouth [4750] is full [1073] of cursing [685] and [2532] bitterness [4088]:

¹⁸ Thy way [01870] and thy doings [04611] have procured [06213] these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness [07451], because it is bitter [04751], because it reacheth [05060] unto thine heart [03820].

¹⁹ Thine own wickedness [07451] shall correct [03256] thee, and thy backslidings [04878] shall reprove [03198] thee: know [03045] therefore and see [07200] that it is an evil [07451] thing and bitter [04751], that thou hast forsaken [05800] the LORD [03068] thy God [0430], and that my fear [06345] is not in thee, saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635].

¹⁵ Looking diligently [1983] lest [3361] any man [5100] fail [5302] of [575] the grace [5485] of God [2316]; lest [3361] any [5100] root [4491] of bitterness [4088] springing [5453] up [507] trouble [1776] you, and [2532] thereby [1223] [5026] many [4183] be defiled [3392];

¹⁸ Lest there should be [03426] among you man [0376], or woman [0802], or family [04940], or tribe [07626], whose heart [03824] turneth away [06437] this day [03117] from the LORD [03068] our God [0430], to go [03212] and serve [05647] the gods [0430] of these nations [01471]; lest there should be [03426] among you a root [08328] that beareth [06509] gall [07219] and wormwood [03939];

⁶ Is not this the fast [06685] that I have chosen [0977]? to loose [06605] the bands [02784] of wickedness [07562], to undo [05425] the heavy [04133] burdens [092], and to let the oppressed [07533] go [07971] free [02670], and that ye break [05423] every yoke [04133]?

¹⁴ And [1161] above [1909] all [3956] these things [5125] put on charity [26], which [3748] is [2076] the bond [4886] of perfectness [5047].

¹⁹ And [2532] not [3756] holding [2902] the Head [2776], from [1537] which [3739] all [3956] the body [4983] by [1223] joints [860] and [2532] bands [4886] having nourishment ministered [2023], and [2532] knit together [4822], increaseth [837] with the increase [838] of God [2316].

³ Endeavouring [4704] to keep [5083] the unity [1775] of the Spirit [4151] in [1722] the bond [4886] of peace [1515].

³⁴ They gave [1325] him [846] vinegar [3690] to drink [4095] mingled [3396] with [3326] gall [5521]: and [2532] when he had tasted [1089] thereof, he would [2309] not [3756] drink [4095].