Acts 8:11
New International Version
They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.

New Living Translation
They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

English Standard Version
And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.

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

Berean Literal Bible
Now they were giving heed to him because for a long time he had amazed them with the magic arts.

King James Bible
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

New King James Version
And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

New American Standard Bible
And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic arts.

NASB 1995
And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

NASB 1977
And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts.

Legacy Standard Bible
And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astounded them with his magic arts.

Amplified Bible
They were paying attention to him because for a long time he had mystified and dazzled them with his magic.

Christian Standard Bible
They were attentive to him because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They were attentive to him because he had astounded them with his sorceries for a long time.

American Standard Version
And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

Contemporary English Version
For a long time, Simon had used witchcraft to amaze the people, and they kept crowding around him.

English Revised Version
And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They paid attention to Simon because he had amazed them for a long time with his practice of magic.

Good News Translation
They paid this attention to him because for such a long time he had astonished them with his magic.

International Standard Version
They paid careful attention to him because he had thrilled them for a long time with his occult performances.

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

NET Bible
And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

New Heart English Bible
They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.

Webster's Bible Translation
And to him they had regard, because that for a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Weymouth New Testament
His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.

World English Bible
They listened to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they were giving heed to him, because of his having amazed them for a long time with deeds of magic.

Berean Literal Bible
Now they were giving heed to him because for a long time he had amazed them with the magic arts.

Young's Literal Translation
and they were giving heed to him, because of his having for a long time amazed them with deeds of magic.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they attended to him, because for a sufficient time they were astonished by magics.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they were attentive to him, because, for a long time, he had bewitched them with his magical practices.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they were attentive to him because, for a long time, he had deluded them with his magic.

New American Bible
They paid attention to him because he had astounded them by his magic for a long time,

New Revised Standard Version
And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
All of them listened to him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with his sorceries.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they were all persuaded by him, because many times he had astonished them by his sorceries.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And they gave heed to him because he had, for a long time, astonished them with his magic arts.

Godbey New Testament
And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had deceived them with his magic arts.

Haweis New Testament
And to him they attended, because he had of a considerable time astonished them by his magical tricks.

Mace New Testament
no wonder they were so attach'd to one, who had for a long time infatuated them with his arts.

Weymouth New Testament
His influence over them arose from their having been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries.

Worrell New Testament
And they were giving heed to him, because of his having for a long time amazed them with his sorceries.

Worsley New Testament
And they were attentive to him, because he had for a considerable time astonished them by his magic arts.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Simon the Sorcerer
10and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” 11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. 12But 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.…

Cross References
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. / For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, ...

Revelation 13:13-14
And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. / Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Exodus 7:11-12
But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. / Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1 Kings 22:22-23
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ / So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

Ezekiel 13:6-9
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ...

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

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,

Isaiah 47:12-13
So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! / You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,


Treasury of Scripture

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

he had.

Isaiah 8:19
And 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?

Isaiah 44:25
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

Isaiah 47:9-13
But 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…

Jump to Previous
Amazed Arts Astonished Attention Bewildered Bewitched Control Deeds Followed Heed Influence Kept Magic Powers Regard Sorceries Time Wonder-Working
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Amazed Arts Astonished Attention Bewildered Bewitched Control Deeds Followed Heed Influence Kept Magic Powers Regard Sorceries Time Wonder-Working
Acts 8
1. By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria,
4. by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;
9. among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;
14. Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church;
15. where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;
18. when Simon would have bought the like power of them,
20. Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness,
22. and exhorting him to repentance,
25. together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;
26. but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch.














They paid close attention to him
This phrase indicates a deep level of engagement and focus from the people towards Simon the sorcerer. The Greek word used here is "prosechō," which means to hold the mind towards, to pay attention, or to be cautious about. This suggests that the people were not merely passive observers but were actively engaged and perhaps even captivated by Simon's actions. In a spiritual context, this highlights the human tendency to be drawn to the extraordinary and the miraculous, even when it is not of God. It serves as a cautionary reminder for believers to discern the source of spiritual manifestations and to ensure that their focus remains on Christ.

because he had astounded them
The word "astounded" comes from the Greek "existēmi," which means to amaze or to throw into wonderment. This indicates that Simon's sorcery had a profound impact on the people, leaving them in a state of awe and confusion. Historically, such reactions were common in the ancient world, where supernatural occurrences were often attributed to divine or mystical powers. For the early Christians, this serves as a reminder of the importance of distinguishing between true miracles of God and deceptive wonders that lead people away from the truth.

for a long time
This phrase emphasizes the duration of Simon's influence over the people. The Greek word "hikanos" can mean sufficient, adequate, or considerable, indicating that Simon's sorcery was not a fleeting phenomenon but had a sustained impact. This prolonged influence suggests that the people had become accustomed to his presence and perhaps even reliant on his supposed powers. In a spiritual sense, this warns of the dangers of long-term exposure to false teachings or practices, which can gradually erode one's faith and discernment.

with his sorcery
The term "sorcery" is translated from the Greek word "mageia," which refers to the practice of magic or the use of supernatural powers for personal gain or manipulation. In the biblical context, sorcery is often associated with deception and is condemned as it leads people away from the truth of God. Archaeological findings and historical records from the ancient Near East reveal that sorcery and magic were prevalent practices, often intertwined with religious and cultural beliefs. For the early church, the presence of sorcery posed a significant challenge, as it competed with the message of the Gospel. This highlights the need for believers to remain vigilant and grounded in Scripture, ensuring that their faith is rooted in the power of God rather than the allure of the miraculous.

(11) And to him they had regard.--The Greek word is the same as in the "gave heed" of the previous verse. The "long time" during which the evil fascination had been exercised, reckoning backwards from the date which we have now reached (A.D. 34), might carry us to a period prior to our Lord's visit to Sychar, in A.D. 30. It is scarcely probable, however, that it was in active operation at that time. And it is likely enough that, finding the people still influenced by the impressions which that visit had left, he wrought on their excited feelings for his own purpose.

Verse 11. - They gave heed to him for to him they had regard, A.V.; amazed for bewitched, A.V.; his sorceries for sorceries, A.V.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
They paid close attention
προσεῖχον (proseichon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4337: From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.

to him
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

because
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

he had amazed
ἐξεστακέναι (exestakenai)
Verb - Perfect Infinitive Active
Strong's 1839: From ek and histemi; to put out of wits, i.e. Astound, or become astounded, insane.

them
αὐτούς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

for a
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

long
ἱκανῷ (hikanō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2425: From hiko; competent, i.e. Ample or fit.

time
χρόνῳ (chronō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5550: A space of time or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay.

with [his]
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sorcery.
μαγείαις (mageiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3095: Magic. From mageuo; 'magic'.


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