Bible Strands
Acts 8:24
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Simon speaks to Peter and John immediately after Peter diagnoses his heart as poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity. He makes this request before the apostles depart to continue preaching in Samaritan villages.
The words — δεήθητε (deēthēte) translates literally as "pray earnestly" or "do pray," emphasizing urgent intercession. The verb follows Simon’s acknowledgment of the apostles' spiritual authority to pronounce judgment.
The thread — This pattern of requesting intercessory prayer mirrors Pharaoh’s plea to Moses in Exodus 8:8 and the Israelites’ request to Moses in Numbers 21:7. It also aligns with God’s command for Job’s friends to seek His servant Job in Job 42:8.
Why it lands — The text records Simon asking the apostles to pray so that his feared judgment would not occur. It demands that readers recognize spiritual authority carries real consequences and that genuine repentance requires seeking intercession from those who speak for God.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Cross-references
- Exodus 8:8 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.”
- Numbers 21:7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.
- Job 42:8 So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”
- Genesis 20:7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
- Exodus 10:17 Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.”
- Exodus 12:32 Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.”
- 1 Kings 13:6 Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.
- James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
- Genesis 20:17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
- 1 Samuel 12:19 They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”