Acts 8:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

NIV: For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.'

NASB: For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness.'

CSB: For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness."

NLT: for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.'

KJV: For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

NKJV: For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

Simon has been a popular sorcerer in the district of Samaria for some time. He had a large following of people who thought he had God's power. When Philip comes to Samaria and preaches the good news about salvation through Jesus' sacrifice, Simon was so amazed by Philip's miracles he was baptized (Acts 8:5–13). This incident gives good reason to question his sincerity, and his original motives. Simon's error isn't just something minor; it suggests a profound misunderstanding of who God is.

There is a difference between believing things about Jesus and accepting Him as your Savior. It's possible Simon's earlier power came from demons, so it's possible Simon "believes" in the same way demons do: intellectually accepting truth without submitting to it (James 2:19). Peter calls Simon to not just believe but to repent: to turn away from his desire to use this supernatural power for his own gain (Acts 8:22). Simon may understand a little more about God than he did before Philip came, but he is still living out of the wickedness inside him.

Moses referred to bitterness as a result of idolatry (Deuteronomy 29:16–20). He spoke of how idolatry pushed people to think they could reject God with impunity, even though their wickedness was leading to "poisonous and bitter fruit" (Deuteronomy 29:18). When our primary goal is to get what we want, we're liable to use any means to do so. In that frame of mind, if God doesn't serve us sufficiently, we'll turn to idols like money or fame or even security. When those false idols don't work, we become bitter against God and life. We do what we think it will take to get us what we want, but become captive to our sin.

When we repent of our self-delusion and accept that God is sovereign over us, we can rest easier. He is in control, not us, our desires, or the idols upon which we inappropriately rely. And only He has our best interests at heart and the ability to give us what we need. He wishes to free us from the prison of our wickedness (Isaiah 58:6).

Like Simon, recognizing that our sin has imprisoned us is the first step to being free of it.

Acts 8:9–25 further describes the apostles' pursuit of Jesus' plan to bring salvation to those He chooses. Simon, a popular and presumably wealthy sorcerer, sees Philip's miracles. He especially notices the way the Holy Spirit comes on people when Peter and John lay their hands on them. Simon offers to buy their power. Meanwhile, Peter and John are in Samaria. The thought of Samaritans following Jesus goes against longstanding Jewish traditions. Yet the Samaritans are accepting Christ, and these messengers of the church are there to see the Holy Spirit come on them. God is not impressed by worldly popularity or wealth but on repentant, submissive hearts.

Jesus told the apostles they would spread the gospel (Acts 1:8) and persecution makes that happen. Upon the death of the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:54–60), a young Pharisee named Saul builds on the momentum to arrest and, if possible, execute Jesus followers (Acts 8:1–3; 26:10). The apostles mostly stay in Jerusalem, but the church members flee, spreading the gospel to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Important encounters in this passage include a magician named Simon and the conversion of an Ethiopian court official.

Acts 1:8 gives the outline of the book of Acts; Acts 1—7 describes the spread of the gospel through Jerusalem; Acts 8:1—11:18 shows the gospel spreading in Judea and Samaria; Acts 11:19—28:31 sees the gospel spread to the ''end of the earth,'' finalizing in Rome. Ironically, although Paul is the central figure in spreading Jesus' good news to the ends of the earth, his early persecution of the church in Jerusalem is instrumental in spreading the gospel through Judea and Samaria.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.