Acts 8 · Verse 13

Acts 8:13

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Acts 8:13, King James Version

Acts 8:13 in other translations

BSB	Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed.
WEB	Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
ASV	And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.
YLT	and Simon also himself did believe, and, having been baptized, he was continuing with Philip, beholding also signs and mighty acts being done, he was amazed.
DARBY	And Simon also himself believed; and, having been baptised, continued constantly with Philip; and, beholding the signs and great works of power which took place, was astonished.
BBE	And Simon himself had faith and, having had baptism, he went with Philip and, seeing the signs and the great wonders which he did, he was full of surprise.
Webster	Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

What does Acts 8:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 8:9-13

9-13. used sorcery--magical arts. some great one ... the great power of God--a sort of incarnation of divinity.

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Barnes' Notes

Verse 13. Then Simon himself believed also. That is, he believed that Jesus had wrought miracles, and was raised from the dead, etc. All this he could believe in entire consistency with his own notions of the power of magic: and all that the connexion requires us to suppose is that he believed this--that Jesus had power of working miracles, etc.; and as he purposed to turn this to his own account, he was willing to profess himself to be his follower. It might have injured his popularity, moreover, if he had taken a stand when so many were professing to become Christians. Men often profess religion because, if they do not, they fear they will lose their influence, and be left with the ungodly. That Simon was not a real Christian is apparent from the whole narrative, Acts 8:18,21-23.

And when he was baptized. He was admitted to a profession of religion in the same way as the others. Philip did not pretend to know the heart; and Simon was admitted because he professed his belief. This is all the evidence that ministers can have; and it is no wonder that they, as well as Philip, are often deceived. The reasons which influenced Simon to make a profession of religion seem to have been these:

(1.) An impression that Christianity was true. He seems to have been convinced of this by the miracles of Philip.

(2.) The fact that many others were becoming Christians; and he went in with the multitude. This is often the case in revivals of religion.

(3.) He had no religion; but it is clear Acts 8:20,21, that he was willing to make use of Christianity to advance his own power, influence, and popularity--a thing which multitudes of men of the same mind with Simon Magus have been willing since to do.

He continued, etc. It was customary and natural for the disciples to remain with their teachers. See Acts 2:42.

And wondered. This is the same word that is translated bewitched in Acts 8:9,11. It means that he was amazed that Philip could really perform so much greater miracles than he had even pretended to. Hypocrites will sometimes be greatly attentive to the external duties of religion, and will be greatly surprised at what is done by God for the salvation of sinners.

Miracles and signs. Greek, Signs and great powers, or great miracles. That is, so much greater than he pretended to be able to perform.

(1) "miracles" "signs and great miracles"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 Simon himself believed also - He was struck with the doctrine and miracles of Philip - he saw that these were real; he knew his own to be fictitious. He believed therefore that Jesus was the Messiah, and was in consequence baptized. Continued with Philip, and wondered - ΕξιϚατο, He was as much astonished and confounded at the miracles of Philip as the people of Samaria were at his legerdemain. It is worthy of remark that εξιϚατο comes from the same root, εξιϚημι, as the word εξιϚων, in Act 8:9, and, if our translation bewitched be proper there, it should be retained here; and then we should read, Then Simon himself believed and was baptized, and continued with Philip, being Bewitched, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. We may see, from this circumstance, how improper the term bewitched is, in the 9th and 11th verses.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 8:5-13

As far as the gospel prevails, evil spirits are dislodged, particularly unclean spirits. All inclinations to the lusts of the flesh which war against the soul are such. Distempers are here named, the most difficult to be cured by the course of nature, and most expressive of the disease of sin. Pride, ambition, and desire after grandeur have always caused abundance of mischief, both to the world and to the church…

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Acts 8:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὁho<the>G3588

δὲdeAndG1161

ΣίμωνSimōnSimonG4613

καὶkaialsoG2532

αὐτὸςautoshimselfG846

ἐπίστευσεν,episteusenbelieved,G4100

καὶkaiandG2532

βαπτισθεὶςbaptistheishaving been baptizedG907

ἦνēnhe wasG1510

προσκαρτερῶνproskarterōnsteadfastly continuingG4342

τῷtō<the>G3588

Φιλίππῳ,Philippōwith Philip,G5376

θεωρῶνtheōrōnBeholdingG2334

τεtethenG5037

σημεῖαsēmeia[the] signsG4592

καὶkaiandG2532

δυνάμειςdunameismiraclesG1411

μεγάλαςmegalasgreatG3173

γινομέναςginomenasbeing performedG1096

ἐξίστατο.¶existatohe was amazed.G1839

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 8:13

Acts 19:11
And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Acts 8:6-7
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
John 5:20
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
John 8:30-31
As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Mark 16:17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
John 2:23-25
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Acts 13:44
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Psalms 106:12-13
Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
James 2:19-26
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? …
Luke 8:13
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
John 7:21
Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
Habakkuk 1:5
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Simon.This Simon was probably, as several learned men suppose, the same who is mentioned by Josephus, as persuading Drusilla to leave her husband, and live with Felix.
believed.
21; Ps 78:35-37; 106:12,13; Lu 8:13; Joh 2:23-25; 8:30,31
Jas 2:19-26
and wondered.
3:10; 13:44; Hab 1:5; Joh 5:20; 7:21
miracles and signs. Gr. signs and great miracles.
7; Mr 16:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:13
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:14
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Read all of Acts 8

Acts 8:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El mismo Simón creyó también entonces, y bautizándose, se llegó á Felipe: y viendo los milagros y grandes maravillas que se hacían, estaba atónito.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et Simon crut aussi lui-même; et après avoir été baptisé, il se tenait toujours auprès de Philippe; et voyant les prodiges et les grands miracles qui se faisaient, il était dans l’étonnement.
German Elberfelder 1871	Aber auch Simon selbst glaubte, und als er getauft war, hielt er sich zu Philippus; und als er die Zeichen und großen Wunder sah, welche geschahen, geriet er außer sich.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Tunc Simon et ipse credidit: et cum baptizatus esset, adhærebat Philippo. Videns etiam signa et virtutes maximas fieri, stupens admirabatur.