A.T. Robertson Commentary Revelation 18:23

"and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived." — Revelation 18:23 (ASV)

Of a lamp (λυχνου). Old word (Matthew 5:15), again in Re 22:5.

Shall shine no more at all (ου μη φανη). Fifth instance in these verses of ου μη with the aorist subjunctive, here the active of φαινω as in Re 8:12. It is not known whether Rome had street lights or not.

The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride (φωνη νυμφιου κα νυμφης). See Joh 3:29; Jeremiah 7:34; 16:9. "Even the occasional flash of the torches carried by bridal processions (Matthew 25:1ff.) is seen no more" (Swete). The sixth instance of ου μη, in verses 21-23, occurs with ακουσθη (third instance of ακουσθη, two in verse 22).

Were the princes of the earth (ησαν ο μεγιστανες της γης). For μεγισταν see Re 6:15; Mr 6:21. "Thy merchants were the grandees" once, but now these merchant princes are gone.

With thy sorcery (εν τη φαρμακια σου). Εν (instrumental use) and the locative case of φαρμακια, old word (from φαρμακευω, to prepare drugs, from φαρμακον, sorcery, Revelation 9:21), in N.T. only here and Ga 5:20 for sorcery and magical arts. If one is puzzled over the connection between medicine and sorcery as illustrated by this word (our pharmacy), he has only to recall quackery today in medicine (patent medicines and cure-alls), witch-doctors, professional faith-healers, medicine-men in Africa. True medical science has had a hard fight to shake off chicanery and charlatanry.

Were deceived (επλανηθησαν). First aorist passive indicative of πλαναω. These charlatans always find plenty of victims. See Mr 12:24.