And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a
great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they
were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and
Samaria, except the apostles.
Persecution of the Church at Jerusalem, Particularly by Saul (8:1-... [ Continue Reading ]
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him.
AND DEVOUT MEN, [ andres (G435) eulabeis (G2126)] - pious Jews,
impressed probably with admiration for Stephen, and secretly inclined
to Christianity, though not yet prepared, especially while the
persecution rage... [ Continue Reading ]
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house,
and haling men and women committed them to prison.
AS FOR SAUL, HE MADE HAVOC OF THE CHURCH, ENTERING INTO EVERY HOUSE -
like an Inquisitor (as Bengel says),
AND HALING MEN AND WOMEN, COMMITTED THEM TO PRISON. 'Since he could... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching
the word.
THEREFORE THEY THAT WERE SCATTERED ABROAD WENT EVERY WHERE, [
dieelthon (G1330)] - 'went up and down' or 'in all directions,'
PREACHING THE WORD. The least that this can mean is that they went
through the principal p... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ
unto them.
THEN PHILIP - not the apostle of that name (as some of the fathers
supposed), for in that case (as Grotius observes) the apostles would
have had no need to send some of themselves to lay their hands on the
newly-baptize... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE PEOPLE WITH ONE ACCORD GAVE HEED UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH
PHILIP SPAKE, HEARING AND SEEING THE MIRACLES WHICH HE DID._
No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that
were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were
lame, were healed.
FOR UNCLEAN SPIRITS, CRYING WITH LOUD VOICE, CAME OUT OF MANY THAT
WERE POSSESSED WITH THEM: AND MANY TAKEN WITH PALSIES, AND THAT WERE
LAME,... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was great joy in that city.
AND THERE WAS GREAT JOY IN THAT CITY joy over the change worked by
the Gospel in it and over the varied AND THERE WAS GREAT JOY IN THAT
CITY - joy over the change worked by the Gospel in it, and over the
varied cures by which its divine character was atteste... [ Continue Reading ]
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:
BUT THERE WAS, [ proupeerchen (G4391)] - 'was there before;'
preceding Philip in operating on the people,
A CERTAIN MAN, C... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying,
This man is the great power of God.
TO WHOM THEY ALL GAVE HEED, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST. [Lachmann
and Tischendorf leave out pantes (G3956), but all the leading,
manuscripts have it; and instead of being inserted to 'fill... [ Continue Reading ]
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had
bewitched them with sorceries.
AND TO HIM THEY HAD REGARD, BECAUSE THAT OF LONG TIME HE HAD
BEWITCHED THEM, [ dia (G1223) to (G3588) hikanoo (G2425) chronoo
(G5550) ... exestakenai (G1839)] - 'because that for a considerable
time they... [ Continue Reading ]
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both
men and women.
BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVED PHILIP PREACHING [THE THINGS] CONCERNING THE
KINGDOM OF GOD, AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THEY WERE BAPTIZED, BOTH
MEN A... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he
continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs
which were done.
THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO. Left without followers, he thinks
it best to join the man who had fairly outstripped him, not without a
touch of... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
NOW WHEN THE APOSTLES WHICH WERE AS JERUSALEM HEARD THAT SAMARIA HAD
RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD, THEY SENT UNTO THEM PETER AND JOHN - showing
that Peter was regarded o... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHO, WHEN THEY WERE COME DOWN, PRAYED FOR THEM, THAT THEY MIGHT
RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST:_
No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
THEN LAID THEY THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY
SPIRIT. While the prayer seems to have been one act [the verb is in
the aorist, proseeuxanto (G4336)], the imposition of hands and the
descent of the Spirit, was a... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the
Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
AND WHEN SIMON SAW, [ theasamenos (G2300 ) IS THE RECEIVED READING,
BUT idoon (G1492 ) IS BETTER SUPPORTED] THAT THROUGH LAYING ON OF THE
APOSTLES' HANDS THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GIVEN, H... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he
may receive the Holy Ghost.
SAYING, GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER, THAT ON WHOMSOEVER I LAY HANDS, HE
MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. This was evidently a plan for recovering,
through the new Faith, that influence over the people as wond... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou
hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
BUT PETER SAID UNTO HIM, THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE. This is the
language of mingled horror and indignation, reminding us of our Lord's
rebuke of Peter himself (Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not
right in the sight of God.
THOU HAST NEITHER PART NOR LOT IN THIS MATTER. It is a needless
refinement of Bengel to distinguish between these two words in such a
phrase, which plainly is but an emphatic expression for 'no share a... [ Continue Reading ]
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
REPENT THEREFORE OF THIS THY WICKEDNESS, AND PRAY GOD - `pray the
Lord' is evidently the true reading here [ kuriou (G2962), with 'Aleph
(') A B C D E, etc.; the Peshito Syriac; som... [ Continue Reading ]
For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the
bond of iniquity.
FOR I PERCEIVE THAT THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS - literally
'into' it [ eis (G1519)] as if steeped in it FOR I PERCEIVE THAT THOU
ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS - literally, 'into' it [ eis (G1519)],
as if... [ Continue Reading ]
Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none
of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
THEN ANSWERED SIMON, AND SAID, PRAY YE TO THE LORD FOR ME. The "ye"
here [ humeis (G5210)] is emphatic-`Your prayer will be more
efficacious than mine' (as Webster and Wilkinso... [ Continue Reading ]
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord,
returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the
Samaritans.
AND THEY (PETER AND JOHN), WHEN THEY HAD TESTIFIED AND PREACHED THE
WORD OF THE LORD - that is, both in the city where Philip's labours
had been... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go
toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto
Gaza, which is desert.
AND THE (OR 'AN') ANGEL OF THE LORD SPAKE UNTO PHILIP, SAYING, ARISE,
AND GO TOWARD THE SOUTH UNTO THE WAY (THAT IS, SO AS TO GET INTO THE
WA... [ Continue Reading ]
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of
great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the
charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
AND HE AROSE AND WENT. To leave a city where his hands were full of
his Master's work, to g... [ Continue Reading ]
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
WAS RETURNING. Having come so far, he not only stayed out the days of
the festival, but prolonged his stay until now. It says much for his
fidelity and value to his royal mistress that he had such liberty. But
the faith in Yahweh... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot.
THEN THE SPIRIT SAID UNTO PHILIP - by an unmistakable voice within,
as in ; Acts 16:6,
GO NEAR, AND JOIN THYSELF TO THIS CHARIOT. This would reveal to
Philip the hitherto unknown object of his journey, and encourage h... [ Continue Reading ]
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias,
and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
AND PHILIP RAN THERE TO HIM, AND HEARD HIM READ THE PROPHET ESAIAS,
AND SAID, UNDERSTANDEST THOU WHAT THOU READEST? [ ara (G686) ge
(G1065).] The particles here used imply that a... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he
desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
AND HE SAID, HOW CAN I, [ Poos (G4459) gar (G1063) an (G302)
dunaimeen (G1410)] - 'Why, how should I,'
EXCEPT SOME MAN SHOULD GUIDE ME? Beautiful expression at once of
humilit... [ Continue Reading ]
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a
sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so
opened he not his mouth:
THE PLACE, [ periochee (G4042)] - the 'portion,' or 'section;' not
'contents' (as most modern critics render the word (from 1 Peter 2:6,... [ Continue Reading ]
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare
his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
IN HIS HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY: AND WHO SHALL DECLARE
HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS TAKEN FROM THE EARTH. The proper
exposition of the several clauses of t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom
speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
AND THE EUNUCH ANSWERED PHILIP, AND SAID, I PRAY THEE, OF WHOM
SPEAKETH THE PROPHET THIS? OF HIMSELF, OR OF SOME OTHER MAN? The
respect with which he here addresses Philip... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus.
THEN PHILIP OPENED HIS MOUTH (SEE THE NOTE AT ), AND BEGAN AT THE
SAME SCRIPTURE - founding on it as his text,
AND PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS - showing Him to be the glorious Burden
of this wonderful predi... [ Continue Reading ]
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and
the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be
baptized?
AND AS THEY WENT ON THEIR WAY, THEY CAME UNTO A CERTAIN WATER: AND
THE EUNUCH SAID, SEE, HERE IS WATER, [ idou (G2400) hudoor (G5204)] -
'Behold water,' as... [ Continue Reading ]
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God.
[AND PHILIP SAID, IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THINE HEART, THOU
MAYEST. AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE
SON OF GOD.] This enti... [ Continue Reading ]
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both
into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
AND HE COMMANDED THE CHARIOT TO STAND STILL; AND THEY WENT DOWN BOTH
INTO THE WATER, [ eis (G1519) to (G3588) hudoor (G5204)]. This may be
rendered 'unto the water... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on
his way rejoicing.
AND WHEN THEY WERE COME UP OUT OF THE WATER, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD
CAUGHT AWAY PHILIP. To deny the supernatural character of this removal
of... [ Continue Reading ]
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in
all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
BUT PHILIP WAS FOUND AT, [ heurethee (G2147) eis (G1519)], q.d., 'was
found brought to:' see Winer, 50. 4, b, and 65. 8]. The idea is that
of 'made his appearance,' or 'was next heard of... [ Continue Reading ]