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But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who had used sorcery in the city before, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,
Verse Takeaways
1
The Deceptive Magician
Commentators identify this Simon as a famous magician who used deception, not genuine supernatural power, to gain influence. He was a type of charlatan common in the ancient world, who built his reputation by boasting that he was "some great one." His story introduces the first major conflict between the church and a religious impostor.
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9
18th Century
Presbyterian
But there was a certain man, called Simon. The Fathers have written much regarding this man and have given strange accounts of him, but no…
Simon (Σιμων). One of the common names (Josephus, Ant. XX. 7, 2) and a number of messianic pretenders had this name. A larg…
19th Century
Anglican
But there was a certain man, called Simon.—The man who is thus brought before us in a brief episode occupies a prominent …
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Baptist
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which P…
Simon the sorcerer, or Simon Magus as he is called in postapostolic Christian writings, was a leading heretic in the early church. Justin Martyr (d…
16th Century
Protestant
A certain man named Simon. This was such an obstacle that it might seem the gospel could find no way to reach the Samaritans, for all thei…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
But there was a certain man called Simon Who, as Justin Martyr F6 says, was a Samaritan, and of a village…
As far as the gospel prevails, evil spirits are dislodged, particularly unclean spirits. All inclinations to the lusts of the flesh, which war agai…
