King James Bible
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:

American Standard Version
But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

Young's Literal Translation
And a certain man, by name Simon, was before in the city using magic, and amazing the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be a certain great one,

Acts 8:9 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

A certain man called Simon - In ancient ecclesiastical writers, we have the strangest account of this man; they say that he pretended to be the Father, who gave the law to Moses; that he came in the reign of Tiberius in the person of the Son; that he descended on the apostles on the day of pentecost, in flames of fire, in quality of the Holy Spirit; that he was the Messiah, the Paraclete, and Jupiter; that the woman who accompanied him, called Helena, was Minerva, or the first intelligence; with many other extravagancies which probably never had an existence. All that we know to be certain on this subject is, that he used sorcery, that he bewitched the people, and that he gave out himself to be some great one.

This might be sufficient, were not men prone to be wise above what is written.

Our word sorcerer, from the French sorcier, which, from the Latin sors, a lot, signifies the using of lots to draw presages concerning the future; a custom that prevailed in all countries, and was practised with a great variety of forms. On the word lot see the note, Leviticus 16:8, Leviticus 16:9; and Joshua 14:2.

The Greek word, μαγευων, signifies practising the rites or science of the Magi, or Mughan, the worshippers of fire among the Persians; the same as Majoos, and Majooseean, from which we have our word magician. See the note on Matthew 2:1.

And bewitched the people of Samaria - εξιϚων, Astonishing, amazing, or confounding the judgment of the people, from εξιϚημι, to remove out of a place or state, to be transported beyond one's self, to be out of one's wits; a word that expresses precisely the same effect which the tricks or legerdemain of a juggler produce in the minds of the common people who behold his feats. It is very likely that Simon was a man of this cast, for the east has always abounded in persons of this sort. The Persian, Arabian, Hindoo, and Chinese jugglers are notorious to the present day; and even while I write this, (July, 1813), three Indian jugglers, lately arrived, are astonishing the people of London; and if such persons can now interest and amaze the people of a city so cultivated and enlightened, what might not such do among the grosser people of Sychem or Sebaste, eighteen hundred years ago?

That himself was some great one - That the feats which he performed sufficiently proved that he possessed a most powerful supernatural agency, and could do whatsoever he pleased.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

used.

Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

Acts 16:16-18 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us...

Acts 19:18-20 And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds...

Exodus 7:11,22 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt...

Exodus 8:18,19 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice on man, and on beast...

Exodus 9:11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians.

Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them...

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination...

2 Timothy 3:8,9 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith...

Revelation 13:13,14 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men...

Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.

giving.

Acts 5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves...

John 7:18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true...

2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God...

2 Timothy 3:2,5 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...

2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness...

Acts 8:9 Parallel Commentaries
Amazed Amazing Arts Astonishing Beforetime Bewitched Boasted Cause City Claiming er Formerly Great Human Magic Making Nation Past Practice Practising Pretending Samaria Samaritans Simon Somebody Someone Sorcery Surprise Time Used Using Wonder-WorkerAmazed Amazing Arts Astonishing Beforetime Bewitched Boasted Cause City Claiming er Formerly Great Human Magic Making Nation Past Practice Practising Pretending Samaria Samaritans Simon Somebody Someone Sorcery Surprise Time Used Using Wonder-WorkerTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.

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