Bible Strands
Acts 8:9
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator introduces Simon in Samaria before Philip's ministry generated great joy in that city. The text establishes his prior presence as a sorcerer who claimed greatness.
The words — προϋπῆρχεν (proupēnchen) literally means "was formerly," marking Simon's established activity before the current events. ὀνόματι (onomati) translates as "named," specifying how he was identified among the inhabitants.
The thread — Self-exalting claims surface in Acts 5:36 with Theudas and Acts 13:6 with a Jewish sorcerer, while John 7:18 contrasts independent authority with delegated mission. These references track a biblical pattern of figures asserting personal power apart from God.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to observe how pre-existing spiritual deception operates in a city before the gospel arrives. It demands a clear assessment of whether a claim to greatness serves self or points to divine action.
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
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Cross-references
- Acts 13:6 They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
- John 7:18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood.
- Acts 5:36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
- Exodus 8:18 The magicians tried to produce gnats using their magic arts, but they could not. And the gnats remained on man and beast.
- Leviticus 20:6 Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will also set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.
- Acts 19:18 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.
- Exodus 7:11 But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts.
- Exodus 7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same things by their magic arts. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.
- Acts 8:11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
- Acts 16:16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.