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Acts 8:11

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,

10 and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.”

They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.

12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
KJV
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
WEB
They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
ASV
And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
DARBY
And they gave heed to him, because that for a long time he had astonished them by his magic arts.
BLB
Now they were giving heed to him because for a long time he had amazed them with the magic arts.
ÅB
Men de gav akt på ham fordi han i lang tid hadde satt dem i forundring ved sine trolldomskunster.
OTB
De fulgte ham fordi han hadde forbløffet dem lenge med sin magi.
B1930
Men de gav akt på ham fordi han i lang tid hadde satt dem i forundring ved sine trolldomskunster.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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,

    Read in context

  • Galatians 3:1

    O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 8:19

    When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 47:9–13

    These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 44:25

    who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

    Read in context