9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously apracticed sorcery in the city and bastonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his1 sorceries for a long time.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things aconcerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
The Sorcerer’s Sin
14 Now when the aapostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them athat they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16 For aas yet He had fallen upon none of them. bThey had only been baptized in cthe name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then athey laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Philip (Filippov). The deacon (Acts 6:5) and evangelist (Acts 21:8), not the apostle of the same name (Mark 3:18).
To the city of Samaria (eiv thn polin thv Samariav). Genitive of apposition. Samaria is the name of the city here. This is the first instance cited of the expansion noted in verse Acts 8:4. Jesus had an early and fruitful ministry in Samaria (John 4), though the twelve were forbidden to go into a Samaritan city during the third tour of Galilee (Matthew 10:5), a temporary prohibition withdrawn before Jesus ascended on high (Acts 1:8).
Proclaimed (ekhrussen). Imperfect active, began to preach and kept on at it. Note euaggelizomenoi in verse Acts 8:4 of missionaries of good news (Page) while ekhrussen here presents the preacher as a herald. He is also a teacher (didaskalov) like Jesus. Luke probably obtained valuable information from Philip and his daughters about these early days when in his home in Caesarea (Acts 21:8).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 8:5:
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