And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Parallel translations
- WEB They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
- BSB They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.
- NKJV And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
- NASB And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic arts.
- NLT They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They followed Simon because his sorceries had long amazed them. His hold over the people rested on impressive but deceptive works.
Overview
The people's allegiance to Simon was rooted in his long-standing magic. This explains the strength of his influence and the significance of so many now turning to Christ instead. It exposes the emptiness of signs that exalt a man rather than glorify God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Acts 8:9But 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:
- Gal 3:1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
- Isa 47:9–13But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
- Isa 8:19And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
- Isa 44:25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 8:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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