Acts 8 · Robertson's Word Pictures
1Was consenting (en suneudokon). Periphrastic imperfect of suneudokeo, a late double compound (sun, eu, dokeo) that well describes Saul's pleasure in the death (anairesis, taking off, only here in the N.T., though old word) of Stephen. For the verb see on Lu 23:32 . Paul himself will later confess that he felt so (Ac 22:20 ), coolly applauding the murder of Stephen, a heinous sin (Ro 1:32 ). It is a gruesome picture. Chapter 7 should have ended here.
On that day (en ekeine te emera). On that definite day, that same day as in 2:41.
A great persecution (diogmos megas). It was at first persecution from the Sadducees, but this attack on Stephen was from the Pharisees so that both parties are now united in a general persecution that deserves the adjective "great." See on Mt 13:21 for the old word diogmos from dioko, to chase, hunt, pursue, persecute.
Were all scattered abroad (pantes diesparesan). Second aorist passive indicative of diaspeiro, to scatter like grain, to disperse, old word, in the N.T. only in Ac 8:1,4; 11:19 .
Except the apostles (plen ton apostolon). Preposition plen (adverb from pleon, more) with the ablative often in Luke. It remains a bit of a puzzle why the Pharisees spared the apostles. Was it due to the advice of Gamaliel in Ac 5:34-40 ? Or was it the courage of the apostles? Or was it a combination of both with the popularity of the apostles in addition?
2Devout (eulabeis). Only four times in the N.T. (Lu 2:25; Ac 2:5; 8:2; 22:12 ). Possibly some non-Christian Jews helped. The burial took place before the Christians were chiefly scattered.
Buried (sunekomisan). Aorist active indicative of sunkomizo, old verb to bring together, to collect, to join with others in carrying, to bury (the whole funeral arrangements). Only here in the N.T.
Lamentation (kopeton). Late word from koptoma, to beat the breast, in LXX, Plutarch, etc., only here in the N.T.
3Laid waste (elumaineto). Imperfect middle of lumainoma, old verb (from lume, injury), to dishonour, defile, devastate, ruin. Only here in the N.T. Like the laying waste of a vineyard by a wild boar (Ps 79:13 ). Picturesque description of the havoc carried on by Saul now the leader in the persecution. He is victor over Stephen now who had probably worsted him in debate in the Cilician synagogue in Jerusalem.
Into every house (kata tous oikous). But Luke terms it "the church" (ten ekklesian). Plainly not just an "assembly," but an organized body that was still "the church" when scattered in their own homes, "an unassembled assembly" according to the etymology. Words do not remain by the etymology, but travel on with usage.
Haling (suron). Literally, dragging forcibly (=hauling). Present active participle of suro, old verb.
Men and women (andras ka gunaikas). A new feature of the persecution that includes the women. They met it bravely as through all the ages since (cf. 9:2; 22:4 ). This fact will be a bitter memory for Paul always.
Committed (paredidou). Imperfect active of paradidom, old verb, kept on handing them over to prison.
4They therefore (o men oun). Demonstrative o as often ( 1:6, etc.) though it will make sense as the article with the participle diasparentes. The general statement is made here by men and a particular instance (de) follows in verse 5. The inferential particle (oun) points back to verse 3, the persecution by young Saul and the Pharisees. Jesus had commanded the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem till they received the Promise of the Father ( 1:4), but they had remained long after that and were not carrying the gospel to the other peoples ( 1:8). Now they were pushed out by Saul and began as a result to carry out the Great Commission for world conquest, that is those "scattered abroad" (diasparentes, second aorist passive participle of diaspeiro). This verb means disperse, to sow in separate or scattered places (dia) and so to drive people hither and thither. Old and very common verb, especially in the LXX, but in the N.T. only in Ac 8:1,4; 11:19 .
Went about (dielthon). Constative second aorist active of dierchoma, to go through (from place to place, dia). Old and common verb, frequent for missionary journeys in the Acts (5:40; 8:40; 9:32; 11:19; 13:6 ).
Preaching the word (euangelizomeno ton logon). Evangelizing or gospelizing the word (the truth about Christ). In 11:19 Luke explains more fully the extent of the labours of these new preachers of the gospel. They were emergency preachers, not ordained clergymen, but men stirred to activity by the zeal of Saul against them. The blood of the martyrs (Stephen) was already becoming the seed of the church. "The violent dispersion of these earnest disciples resulted in a rapid diffusion of the gospel" (Alvah Hovey).
5Philip (Philippos). The deacon ( 6:5) and evangelist ( 21:8), not the apostle of the same name (Mr 3:18 ).
To the city of Samaria (eis ten polin tes Samarias). Genitive of apposition. Samaria is the name of the city here. This is the first instance cited of the expansion noted in verse 4. Jesus had an early and fruitful ministry in Samaria (Joh 4 ), though the twelve were forbidden to go into a Samaritan city during the third tour of Galilee (Mt 10:5 ), a temporary prohibition withdrawn before Jesus ascended on high (Ac 1:8 ).
Proclaimed (ekerussen). Imperfect active, began to preach and kept on at it. Note euangelizomeno in verse 4 of missionaries of good news (Page) while ekerussen here presents the preacher as a herald. He is also a teacher (didaskalos) like Jesus. Luke probably obtained valuable information from Philip and his daughters about these early days when in his home in Caesarea (Ac 21:8 ).
6Gave heed (proseichon). Imperfect active as in verses 10,11 , there with dative of the person (auto), here with the dative of the thing (tois legomenois). There is an ellipse of noun (mind). They kept on giving heed or holding the mind on the things said by Philip, spell-bound, in a word.
When they heard (en to akouein autous). Favourite Lukan idiom, en and the locative case of the articlar infinitive with the accusative of general reference "in the hearing as to them."
Which he did (a epoie). Imperfect active again, which he kept on doing from time to time. Philip wrought real miracles which upset the schemes of Simon Magus.
7For many (pollo gar). So the correct text of the best MSS., but there is an anacoluthon as this nominative has no verb with it. It was "the unclean spirits" that "came out" (exerchonto, imperfect middle). The margin of the Revised Version has it "came forth," as if they came out of a house, a rather strained translation. The loud outcry is like the demons cast out by Jesus (Mr 3:11; Lu 4:41 ).
Palsied (paralelumeno, perfect passive participle). Luke's usual word, loosened at the side, with no power over the muscles. Furneaux notes that "the servant was reaping where the Master had sown. Samaria was the mission field white for the harvest (Joh 4:35 )." The Samaritans who had been bewitched by Simon are now carried away by Philip.
9Simon (Simon). One of the common names (Josephus, Ant. XX. 7, 2) and a number of messianic pretenders had this name. A large number of traditions in the second and third centuries gathered round this man and Baur actually proposed that the Simon of the Clementine Homilies is really the apostle Paul though Paul triumphed over the powers of magic repeatedly (Ac 13:6-12; 19:11-19 ), "a perfect absurdity" (Spitta, Apostelgeschichte, p. 149). One of the legends is that this Simon Magus of Acts is the father of heresy and went to Rome and was worshipped as a god (so Justin Martyr). But a stone found in the Tiber A.D. 1574 has an inscription to Semoni Sanco Deo Fidio Sacrum which is (Page) clearly to Hercules, Sancus being a Sabine name for Hercules. This Simon in Samaria is simply one of the many magicians of the time before the later gnosticism had gained a foothold. "In his person Christianity was for the first time confronted with superstition and religious imposture, of which the ancient world was at this period full" (Furneaux).
Which beforetime used sorcery (prouperchen mageuon). An ancient idiom (periphrastic), the present active participle mageuon with the imperfect active verb from prouparcho, the idiom only here and Lu 23:12 in the N.T. Literally "Simon was existing previously practising magic." This old verb mageuo is from magos (a magus, seer, prophet, false prophet, sorcerer) and occurs here alone in the N.T.
Amazed (existanon). Present active participle of the verb existano, later form of existem, to throw out of position, displace, upset, astonish, chiefly in the Gospels in the N.T. Same construction as mageuon.
Some great one (tina megan). Predicate accusative of general reference (infinitive in indirect discourse). It is amazing how gullible people are in the presence of a manifest impostor like Simon. The Magi were the priestly order in the Median and Persian empires and were supposed to have been founded by Zoroaster. The word mago (magi) has a good sense in Mt 2:1 , but here and in Ac 13:6 it has the bad sense like our "magic."
10That power of God which is called Great (e Dunamis tou theou e kaloumene Megale). Apparently here already the oriental doctrine of emanations or aeons so rampant in the second century. This "power" was considered a spark of God himself and Jerome (in Mt 24 ) quotes Simon (Page) as saying: Ego sum sermo Dei, ... ego omnipotens, ego omnia Dei. Simon claimed to impersonate God.
11Because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries (dia to ikano chrono tais magiais exestakena autous). Causal use of dia with the accusative articular infinitive (perfect active Koine form and transitive, exestakena). Same verb as in verse 9 participle existanon and in verse 13 imperfect passive existato (cf. also 2:7 already). Chrono is associative instrumental and magiais instrumental case.
12They were baptized (ebaptizonto). Imperfect passive (repetition, from time to time), while
believed (episteusan) is constative aorist antecedent to the baptism. Note dative case of Philip with episteusan. Note the gospel of Philip "concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ."
13And Simon also himself believed (Ho de Simon ka autos episteusen). Note the same verb in the aorist tense episteusen. What did he believe? Evidently that Jesus was this "power of God" not himself (Simon). He saw that the miracles wrought by Philip in the name of Christ were genuine while he knew that his own were frauds. He wanted this power that Philip had to add to his own pretensions. "He was probably half victim of self-delusion, half conscious impostor" (Furneaux). He was determined to get this new "power," but had no sense of personal need of Jesus as Saviour for his sins. So he submitted to baptism (baptistheis, first aorist passive participle of baptizo), clear proof that baptism does not convey salvation.
He continued with Philip (en proskarteron to Philippo). Periphrastic imperfect of the verb proskartereo (see on 2:46). He stuck to Philip (dative case) to find out the secret of his power.
Beholding (theoron). Watching the signs and miracles (powers, dunameis that threw his "power" in the shade) as they were wrought (ginomenas, present middle participle of ginoma). The more he watched the more the wonder grew (existato). He had "amazed" (verse 9) the people by his tricks and he was himself more "amazed" than they by Philip's deeds.
14That Samaria had received (ot dedekta e Samaria). The district here, not the city as in verse 5. Perfect middle indicative of dechoma retained in indirect discourse. It was a major event for the apostles for now the gospel was going into Samaria as Jesus had predicted ( 1:8). Though the Samaritans were nominally Jews, they were not held so by the people. The sending of Peter and John was no reflection on Philip, but was an appropriate mission since "many Christian Jews would be scandalized by the admission of Samaritans" (Furneaux). If Peter and John sanctioned it, the situation would be improved. John had once wanted to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village (Lu 9:54 ).
15That they might receive (opos labosin). Second aorist active subjunctive of lambano, final clause with opos. Did they wish the Samaritan Pentecost to prove beyond a doubt that the Samaritans were really converted when they believed? They had been baptized on the assumption that the Holy Spirit had given them new hearts. The coming of the Holy Spirit with obvious signs (cf. 10:44-48) as in Jerusalem would make it plain.
16He was fallen (en epipeptokos). Periphrastic past perfect active of epipipto, old verb. The participle is neuter here because of the grammatical gender of pneuma, but the translation should be "he" (natural gender), not "it." We should not use "it" for the Holy Spirit.
Only they had been baptized (monon de babaptismeno uperchon). Periphrastic past perfect passive of baptizo with uparcho (see verse 9 prouperchon), instead of esan.
Into the name (eis to onoma). Better, in the name (see on 2:38).
17Laid they their hands (epetithesan tas cheiras). Imperfect active, repetition. The laying on of hands did not occur at the great Pentecost (2:4,33 ) nor in 4:31; 10:44 nor is it mentioned in 1Co 12; 14 . It is mentioned in Ac 6:7 about the deacons and in 13:3 when Barnabas and Saul left Antioch. And in Saul's case it was Ananias who laid his hands on him ( 9:17). Hence it cannot be concluded that the Holy Spirit was received only by the laying on of the hands of the apostles or by the hands of anyone. The so-called practice of "confirmation" appeals to this passage, but inconclusively.
They received (elambanon). Imperfect active, repetition as before and par passu with the laying on of the hands.
18When Simon saw (Idon de o Simon). This participle (second aorist active of orao) shows plainly that those who received the gift of the Holy Spirit spoke with tongues. Simon now saw power transferred to others. Hence he was determined to get this new power.
He offered them money (prosenenken chremata). Second aorist active indicative of prosphero. He took Peter to be like himself, a mountebank performer who would sell his tricks for enough money. Trafficking in things sacred like ecclesiastical preferments in England is called "Simony" because of this offer of Simon.
19Me also (kamo). This is the whole point with this charlatan. He wants the power to pass on "this power." His notion of "The Holy Spirit" was on this low level. He regarded spiritual functions as a marketable commodity. Money "can buy diamonds, but not wisdom, or sympathy, or faith, or holiness" (Furneaux).
20Perish with thee (sun so eie eis apoleian). Literally, Be with thee for destruction. Optative for a future wish. The use of eis with the accusative in the predicate is especially common in the LXX. The wish reveals Peter's indignation at the base offer of Simon. Peter was no grafter to accept money for spiritual power. He spurned the temptation. The natural meaning of Peter's language is that Simon was on the road to destruction. It is a warning and almost a curse on him, though verse 22 shows that there was still room for repentance.
To obtain (ktastha). To acquire. Usual meaning of the present tense (infinitive middle) of ktaoma.
21Lot (kleros). Same idea as "part" (meris), only as a figure.
Matter (logo). Literally, word or subject (as in Lu 1:4; Ac 15:6 ), the power of communicating the Holy Spirit. This use of logos is in the ancient Greek.
Straight (eutheia). Quotation from Ps 78:37 . Originally a mathematically straight line as in Ac 9:11 , then moral rectitude as here.
22Wickedness (kakias). Only here in Luke's writings, though old word and in LXX (cf. 1Pe 2:1,16 ).
If perhaps (e ara). Si forte. This idiom, though with the future indicative and so a condition of the first class (determined as fulfilled), yet minimizes the chance of forgiveness as in Mr 11:13 . Peter may have thought that his sin was close to the unpardonable sin (Mt 12:31 ), but he does not close the door of hope.
The thought (e epinoia). Old Greek word from epinoeo, to think upon, and so purpose. Only here in the N.T.
23That thou art (se onta). Participle in indirect discourse after oro (I see).
In the gall of bitterness (eis cholen pikrias). Old word from cholas either from cheo, to pour, or chloe, yellowish green, bile or gall. In the N.T. only in Mt 27:34 and here. In LXX in sense of wormwood as well as bile. See De 29:18; 32:32; La 3:15; Job 16:14 . "Gall and bitterness" in De 29:18 . Here the gall is described by the genitive pikrias as consisting in "bitterness." In Heb 12:15 "a root of bitterness," a bitter root. This word pikria in the N.T. only here and Heb 12:15; Ro 3:14; Eph 4:31 . The "bond of iniquity" (sundesmon adikias) is from Isa 58:6 . Paul uses this word of peace (Eph 4:3 ), of love (Col 3:14 ), of the body (Col 2:19 ). Peter describes Simon's offer as poison and a chain.
24Pray ye for me (Deethete umeis uper emou). Emphasis on umeis (you). First aorist passive imperative. Simon is thoroughly frightened by Peter's words, but shows no sign of personal repentance or change of heart. He wants to escape the penalty for his sin and hopes that Peter can avert it. Peter had clearly diagnosed his case. He was an unconverted man in spite of his profession of faith and baptism. There is no evidence that he ever changed his life at all.
Which (on). Genitive by attraction of the accusative relative a to case of the unexpressed antecedent touton (of those things), a common Greek idiom.
25They therefore (o men oun). Demonstrative o with men (no following de) and the inferential oun (therefore) as often in Acts ( 1:6, etc.).
Returned (upestrephon). Imperfect active picturing the joyful journey of preaching (euengelizonto, imperfect middle) to the Samaritan villages. Peter and John now carried on the work of Philip to the Samaritans. This issue was closed.
26Toward the South (kata mesembrian). Old word from mesos and emera, midday or noon as in Ac 22:16 , the only other example in the N.T. That may be the idea here also, though "towards the South" gets support from the use of kata liba in Ac 27:12 .
The same is desert (aute estin eremos). Probably a parenthetical remark by Luke to give an idea of the way. One of the ways actually goes through a desert. Gaza itself was a strong city that resisted Alexander the Great five months. It was destroyed by the Romans after war broke out with the Jews.
27A eunuch of great authority (eunouchos dunastes). Eunuchs were often employed by oriental rulers in high posts. Dynasty comes from this old word dunastes used of princes in Lu 1:52 and of God in 1Ti 6:15 . Eunuchs were not allowed to be Jews in the full sense (De 23:1 ), but only proselytes of the gate. But Christianity is spreading to Samaritans and to eunuchs.
Candace (Kandakes). Not a personal name, but like Pharaoh and Ptolemy, the title of the queens of Ethiopia. This eunuch apparently brought the gospel to Ethiopia.
Treasure (gazes). Persian word, common in late Greek and Latin for the royal treasure, here only in the N.T.
For to worship (proskuneson). Future active participle expressing purpose, a common idiom in the ancient Greek, but rare in the N.T. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1128).
28Was reading (aneginosken). Imperfect active descriptive, not periphrastic like the two preceding verbs (was returning and sitting). He was reading aloud as Philip "heard him reading" (ekousen auton anaginoskontos), a common practice among orientals. He had probably purchased this roll of Isaiah in Jerusalem and was reading the LXX Greek text. See imperfect again in verse 32.
29Join thyself (kollethet). See this vivid word (be glued to, first aorist passive imperative) already in 5:13; Lu 10:11; 15:15 . Philip probably jumped on the running board on the side of the chariot.
30Understandest thou what thou readest? (Ara ge ginoskeis a anaginoskeis?) The interrogative particle ara and the intensive particle ge indicate doubt on Philip's part. The play (paranomasia) upon the words in the Greek is very neat:
Do you know what you know again (read)? The verb for read (anaginosko) means to know the letters again, recognize, read. The famous comment of Julian about the Christian writings is often quoted: Anegnon, egnon, kategnon (I read, I understood, I condemned). The keen retort was: Anegnos, all'ouk egnos, e gar egnos, ouk an kategnos (You read, but did not understand; for if you had understood, you would not have condemned).
31How can I, except some one shall guide me? (Pos gar an dunaimen ean me tis odegese me?). This is a mixed condition, the conclusion coming first belongs to the fourth class (undetermined with less likelihood of being determined) with an and the optative, but the condition (ean, instead of the usual e, and the future indicative) is of the first class (determined or fulfilled. Robertson, Grammar, p. 1022), a common enough phenomenon in the Koine. The eunuch felt the need of some one to guide (odegeo from odegos, guide, and that from odos, way, and egeoma, to lead).
32The place (e perioche). See the verb perieche so used in 1Pe 2:6 . The word is used either of the section as in Codex A before the beginning of Mark or the contents of a passage. He was here reading one particular passage (Isa 53:7f. ). The quotation is from the LXX which has some variations from the Hebrew.
33Was taken away (erthe). First aorist passive indicative of airo, to take away. It is not clear what the meaning is here either in the Hebrew or the LXX. Knowling suggests that the idea is that justice was withheld, done away with, in his death, as it certainly was in the death of Christ.
34Of whom (per tinos). Concerning whom, a pertinent inquiry surely and one that troubles many critics today.
35Beginning from this scripture (arxamenos apo tes graphes tautes). As a text. Philip needed no better opening than this Messianic passage in Isaiah.
Preached unto him Jesus (euengelisato auto ton Iesoun). Philip had no doubt about the Messianic meaning and he knew that Jesus was the Messiah. There are scholars who do not find Jesus in the Old Testament at all, but Jesus himself did (Lu 24:27 ) as Philip does here. Scientific study of the Old Testament (historical research) misses its mark if it fails to find Christ the Center of all history. The knowledge of the individual prophet is not always clear, but after events throw a backward light that illumines it all (1Pe 1:11f.; 2 Peter 1:19-21 ).
36What doth hinder me to be baptized? (T kolue me baptisthenai?). Evidently Philip had said something about baptism following faith and conversion. Verse 37 is not a genuine part of Acts, a western addition. Later baptismal liturgies had it.
39Out of the water (ek tou udatos). Not from the edge of the water, but up out of the water as in Mr 1:10 .
Caught away (erpasen). Suddenly and miraculously, for arpazo, like the Latin rapio, means to carry off. Cf. 2Co 12:2; 1Th 4:17 .
Went on his way (eporeueto). Kept on going, imperfect active.
40He preached the gospel (euengelizeto). Imperfect middle describing the evangelistic tour of Philip "till he came to Caesarea" (eos tou elthein auton, genitive articular infinitive with the preposition eos and the accusative of general reference) where he made his home and headquarters thereafter (Ac 21:28 ) and was known as the Evangelist.
Acts 9