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Verse Takeaways
1
The Sin of "Simony"
Commentators unanimously identify this moment as the origin of the term "simony"—the act of trying to buy or sell spiritual gifts or church offices. Simon treated the Holy Spirit's power not as a divine gift, but as a magical commodity to be purchased for personal profit and influence. This reveals, as Matthew Henry notes, a heart that is proud, covetous, and "not right in the sight of God."
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Book Overview
Acts
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Commentaries
9
Albert Barnes
On Acts 8:18
18th Century
Theologian
Simon saw, etc. That is, he witnessed the extraordinary effects, the power of speaking in a miraculous manner, etc. (See Barnes on Acts 8:…
AT Robertson
On Acts 8:18
When Simon saw (Ιδων δε ο Σιμων). This participle (second aorist active of οραω) shows plainly that those who received the gift of…
Charles Ellicott
On Acts 8:18–19
19th Century
Bishop
When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands...—The words imply that the result was something visible and…
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Charles Spurgeon
On Acts 8:18–26
19th Century
Preacher
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this pow…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Acts 8:18
Simon’s response to the presence of God’s Spirit and the evidences of God’s power is one of those tragic stories that accompany every advance of th…
John Calvin
On Acts 8:18
16th Century
Theologian
And when Simon. Simon’s hypocrisy is now discovered. This is not because he had previously pretended to believe, for when he was convicted…
John Gill
On Acts 8:18
17th Century
Pastor
And when Simon saw
From which it appears, that the Holy Ghost, or his gifts, which were received by imposition of ha…
Matthew Henry
On Acts 8:14–25
17th Century
Minister
The Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of these converts with the extraordinary powers conveyed by the Spirit's descent on the day of Pentecos…