They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.
Parallel translations
- WEB They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
- KJV And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with 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.
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, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,
- Gal 3:1Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?
- Isa 47:9–13But these two things shall come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in their full measure, in the multitude of your sorceries, and the great abundance of your enchantments.
- Isa 8:19When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
- Isa 44:25who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.