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Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Acts 8:23

In the gall of bitterness,— That is, the bitterest gall. The whole sentence expresses, in St. Peter's strong manner of speaking, how odious and wretched a creature Simon now appeared to him. How much more odious in the sight of a holy God must such a sinner be! De Dieu would render it, I see thee as the very gall of bitterness, and a bundle of iniquity. The gall of bitterness seems to have been an allusion to Deuteronomy 29:18 or Deuteronomy 32:32 and the bond of iniquity to Isaiah 58.

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See also Acts 8:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 8:23. _THE GALL OF BITTERNESS_] A Hebraism for _excessive_ _bitterness_: gall, wormwood, and such like, were used to express the dreadful effects of _sin_ in the soul; the bitter _repentan...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    FOR I PERCEIVE - That is, by the act which he had done. His offer had shown a state of mind that was wholly inconsistent with true religion. One single sin “may” as certainly show that there is no tru...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    PART II The Witness to Samaria. Saul's Conversion and Peter's Witness in Caesarea. Chapter s 8-12 CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The first great persecution (Acts 8:1)._ 2. The preaching of the scattered believ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PETER AND SIMON. No more is heard of Philip at Samaria; the Jerusalem apostles appear, represented by Peter and John, who have got over the prohibition of Matthew 10:5. The baptism of Philip appears t...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE FIRST OF THE MARTYRS (Acts 7:54-60 ; Acts 8:1) 8:1 As they listened to this their very hearts were torn with vexation and they gnashed their teeth at him. But he was full of the Holy Spirit and h...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they despatched Peter and John to them. They came down and prayed for them, so that they might receive the Holy Spirit,...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    PERCEIVE. see. Greek. _horao._ App-133. GALL. Greek. _chole._ Only here and Matthew 27:34. Compare Deuteronomy 29:18. BITTERNESS. Greek. _pikria._ Here, Romans 3:14.

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity_ The preposition _in_makes a great difficulty in this verse. The word in the original means _into_or _for_. The con...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΕἸΣ ΓᾺΡ ΧΟΛῊΝ ΠΙΚΡΊΑΣ. The preposition εἰς = _into_ is not easy to explain here. Some have thought that εἰς, like ἐν, is used as representing בְּ. By others the construction has been compared with tha...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    PETER AND JOHN SENT DOWN TO SAMARIA. CONDUCT OF SIMON MAGUS...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE CONVERSION OF THE SAMARITANS ACTS 8:5-25:_ Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ and the gospel of His kingdom. (Acts 8:12) Signs and wonders confirmed the message Philip preached. As the go...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΧΟΛΉ (G5521) желчь, горькая ярость, горькая отрава, ΠΙΚΡΊΑ горечь, ΣΎΝΔΕΣΜΟΣ (G4886) оковы. Возможно, это значит: "Ты полон горькой отравы, ты опутан цепями неправедности" (Barrett), ΌΡ _praes. ind...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1759 THE STATE OF UNGODLY MEN Acts 8:23. _I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity_. IT is no real disparagement to the Gospel of Christ, if some hyp...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    C. THE WORK OF PETER AND JOHN. Acts 8:14-25. I. AT JERUSALEM. Acts 8:14 Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 20...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    4 We now enter the second cycle of the kingdom testimony. Jerusalem and Judea have not heeded its proclamation. It is now offered to Samaria, then it will go to the limits of the earth, and even to th...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    8:23 unrighteousness. (b-15) Or 'iniquity,' as ch. 1.18....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PHILIP IN SAMARIA. SIMON MAGUS The graphic details of the ministry of Philip which follow, were doubtless obtained from Philip himself. St. Luke stayed at his house at Cæsarea, and made the acquaintan...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 8 SAUL *PERSECUTES THE CHRISTIANS, 8:1-4 V1 Saul approved of Stephen’s murder. That same day, the Christians in *Jerusalem suffered very much....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS, AND IN THE BOND OF INIQUITY. — On “gall,” in its literal sense, see Note on Matthew 27:34. This is the only passage in the New Testament in which it is used figuratively. “B...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    εἰς γὰρ χολὴν : The passages in LXX generally referred to as containing somewhat similar phraseology are Deuteronomy 29:18; Deuteronomy 32:32; Lamentations 3:15. But the word χολή is found in LXX seve...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    CONFIRMING NEW BELIEVERS Acts 8:14-25 Simon attracted people to _himself;_ he posed as a man of power and mystery. The gospel fixes our thoughts exclusively upon _Jesus._ We preach Him as Lord, and o...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The popular outburst against Christianity evidenced in the martyrdom of Stephen was general. Members of the Church at Jerusalem were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. How dark the day seemed to...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Simon's Sin When the apostles heard of the events in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to the city. Theophilus may well have remembered that John and his brother, James, had asked the Lord if they sho...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    For I perceive that thou art in the (g) gall of bitterness, and [in] the (h) bond of iniquity. (g) He calls the inward malice of the heart and the venomous and demonic wickedness with which the magic...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _In the gall of bitterness. In the bitter gall of hypocrisy, in the bonds, fetters, and chains of sin and iniquity. (Witham)_...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    _“For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.”_ This verse shows clearly that Simon had never been saved from inbred sin abiding in his heart after regeneration, a...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    EVANGELIZATION OF SAMARIA 5-25. Philip, a bright, uncultured layman, sanctified in the Pentecostal revival, _“filled with the Spirit and wisdom,”_ rendering him eligible to the office of deacon, was t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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: (10) To whom they all gave h...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We are now arrived at a turning-point in the history, not merely of the church, but of the unfolding of the truth of God, and the manifestation of His ways. The death of Stephen, therefore, has in var...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    23._In the gall of bitterness. _Peter doth sharply reprove Simon again, and striketh him with God’s judgment. For unless he had been compelled to descend into himself, he would never have been turned...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Saul was present at Stephen's death, and consenting to it. [14] This is the end of the first phase of the assembly of God its history in immediate connection with Jerusalem and the Jews, as the centre...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR I PERCEIVE THAT THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS,.... Alluding to Deuteronomy 29:18 with which compare Hebrews 12:15 and signifying, that he was in a state of nature and unregeneracy; under the...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and _in_ the bond of iniquity. Ver. 23. _Thou art in the gall, &c._] The apostle alludeth to Deuteronomy 29:18. Sin is a bitter potion, a deadl...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness_ Be humbled and ashamed for what thou hast thought, said, and done; own thyself guilty in this matter, and be sorry for it; condemn thy way, and amend it; an...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THE GALL OF BITTERNESS-THE BOND OF INIQUITY; in the most loathsome bondage to sin. Men whose great object is self-exaltation have very erroneous views of the nature of true religion, and of the charac...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The blasphemous demand of Simon:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR I PERCEIVE THAT THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS AND IN THE BOND OF INIQUITY....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    As a wild beast tasting blood, the Jews were the more inflamed by the martyrdom of Stephen to greatly persecute the Church of God at Jerusalem. For this reason believers were scattered through Judea a...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    FOR I SEE THAT YOU ARE POISONED BY BITTERNESS AND BOUND BY INIQUITY. " 1. What he had done was called "wicked" by Peter. 2. His heart was not right with God - AND 1. He was poisoned by bitterness...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    For. see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. 'I SEE'-Even non-miraculous insight could tell that Simon's motives weren't pure. (Matthew 15:18 'But the things that pro...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    14-25 The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of these coverts, in the extraordinary powers conveyed by the descent of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost. We may take encouragement from this exa...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE GALL OF BITTERNESS; the same with _gall and wormwood,_ DEUTERONOMY 29:18: or gall and bitterness; signifying a very bad constitution and disposition of soul or mind, such as may be compared unto t...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 8:23 For G1063 see G3708 (G5719) you G4571 are G5607 (G5752) poisoned G1519 G5521 bitterness...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of your heart shall be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 8:23. FOR I PERCEIVE THAT THOU ART IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS, AND IN THE BOND OF INIQUITY. St. Peter here gives the reason why he doubts the possibility of forgiveness. It was not that he conceiv...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THAT THOU ART (σε οντα). Participle in indirect discourse after ορω (I see).IN THE GALL OF BITTERNESS (εις χολην πικριας). Old word from χολας either from χεω, to pour, or χλοη, yellowish green, b...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Acts 8:4. _Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord ga...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Stephen had been stoned to death; but with his latest breath he prayed for his murderers. Then this chapter begins: Acts 8:1. _And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a gre...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Saul persecuting Christians. The first missionaries. The case of Simon, the sorcerer. Philip and the Ethiopian. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Saul, Stephen, Philip, Simon, apostles,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 8:1. _At that time there was a great persecution against the church._ With regard to this very tremendous storm which suddenly burst on the infant church, Cardinal Baronius, in his Ecclesiastical...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    MAY YOU AND YOUR MONEY GO TO HELL. This is a _literal_ translation. _Johnson_ thinks this is not an _anathema_ [God's curse], but the word is APOLEIAN, which is translated "destined to hell" in 2 Thes...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee._ THE IMPOTENCE OF MONEY I do not know that the age in which Simon lived was especially a commercial age; but whatever may have been its distincti...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John._ THE FIRST CHURCH VISITATION I. The occasion. There is-- 1. Chris...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But there was a certain man called Simon _ SIMON THE MAGIAN UNMASKED AND PUT TO SHAME This Simon was the first heretic in the Christian Church, the first to claim its fellowship while out of sympat...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 8:1 _There arose on that day _for _at that time there was, _A.V._; in _for _at, _A.V. SAUL WAS CONSENTING TO HIS DEATH. St. Paul's repeated reference to this sad episode in his life i...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    We are introduced now to one of the chief persecutors. A zealous young Jew, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, whose name is Saul. And he was standing by, consenting to the death of Stephen, holding the coa...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Peter 2:19; 2 Peter 2:4; Deuteronomy 29:18; Deuteronomy 32:32;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    In the gall [ε ι ς χ ο λ η ν]. Lit., into. Thou hast fallen into and continuest in. Gall, only here and Matthew 27:34. Gall of bitterness is bitter enmity against the Gospel. Bond of iniquity [σ υ ν δ...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    PHILIP THE EVANGELIST Acts 8:10 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Philip was a man mighty in word and in deed. He wrought miracles and preached Christ, The people may have talked and marveled at the many palsied a...

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