Acts 8 · Verse 23

Acts 8:23

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Acts 8:23, King James Version

Acts 8:23 in other translations

BSBFor I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
WEBFor I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
ASVFor I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
YLTfor in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness, I perceive thee being.'
DARBYfor I see thee to be in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness.
BBEFor I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.
WebsterFor I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

What does Acts 8:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 8:18-24

18-24. offered them money--Hence the term simony, to denote trafficking in sacred things, but chiefly the purchase of ecclesiastical offices.

Read the full comment on Acts 8:18-24 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. For I perceive. That is, by the act which he had done. His offer had shown a state of mind that was wholly inconsistent with true religion. One single sin may as certainly show that there is no true piety, as many acts of iniquity. It may be so decided, so malignant, so utterly inconsistent with just views, as at once to determine what the character is. The sin of Simon was of this character. Peter here does not appear to have claimed the power of judging the heart; but he judged, as all other men would, by the act.

In the gall. This word denotes properly bile, or that bitter, yellowish-green fluid that is secreted in the liver. Hence it means anything very bitter; and also any bad passion of the mind, as anger, malice, etc. We speak of bitterness of mind, etc.

Of bitterness. This is a Hebraism; the usual mode of expressing the superlative, and means excessive bitterness. The phrase is used respecting idolatry, De 29:18 "Lest there should be among, you a root that beareth gall and wormwood." A similar expression occurs in Heb 12:15, "Lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you," etc. Sin is thus represented as a bitter or poisonous thing; a thing not only unpleasant in its consequences, but ruinous in its character, as a poisonous plant would be in the midst of other plants. Jer 2:19, "It is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God;" Jer 4:18, Rom 3:14, "Whose mouth is full of cursings and bitterness;" Eph 4:31. The meaning here is, that the heart of Simon was full of dreadful, malignant sin.

Bond of iniquity. Or, that thou art bound by iniquity. That is, that it has the rule over you, and binds you as a slave. Sin is often thus represented as bondage and captivity. Sinners are represented as chained to it, and kept in hard servitude, Ps 116:16, Prov 5:22, "He shall be holden with the cords of his sins;" Rom 7:23,24. These expressions prove conclusively that Simon was a stranger to religion.

(a) "gall of bitterness" Jer 4:18, Heb 12:15 (b) "bond of iniquity" Ps 116:16, Prov 5:22, Isa 28:22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 The gall of bitterness - A Hebraism for excessive bitterness: gall, wormwood, and such like, were used to express the dreadful effects of sin in the soul; the bitter repentance, bitter regret, bitter sufferings, bitter death, etc., etc., which it produces. In Deu 29:18, idolatry and its consequences are expressed, by having among them a root that beareth Gall and Wormwood. And in Heb 12:15, some grievous sin is intended, when the apostle warns them, lest any root of Bitterness springing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Bond of iniquity - An allusion to the mode in which the Romans secured their prisoners, chaining the right hand of the prisoner to the left hand of the soldier who guarded him; as if the apostle had said, Thou art tied and bound by the chain of thy sin; justice hath laid hold upon thee, and thou hast only a short respite before thy execution, to see if thou wilt repent.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 8:14-25

The Holy Ghost was as yet fallen upon none of these coverts, in the extraordinary powers conveyed by the descent of the Spirit upon the day of Pentecost. We may take encouragement from this example, in praying to God to give the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost to all for whose spiritual welfare we are concerned; for that includes all blessings. No man can give the Holy Spirit by the laying on of his hands; but we…

Read the full comment on Acts 8:14-25 →

Acts 8:23 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.

εἰςeisinG1519
γὰρgarforG1063
χολὴνcholēn[the] gallG5521
πικρίαςpikriasof bitternessG4088
καὶkaiandG2532
σύνδεσμονsundesmon[the] bondG4886
ἀδικίαςadikiasof iniquityG93
ὁρῶhorōI seeG3708
σεseyouG4771
ὄντα.ontabeing.G1510

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

Cross references for Acts 8:23

  • Isaiah 58:6

    Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

  • Proverbs 5:22

    His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

  • John 8:34

    Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

  • Hebrews 12:15

    Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

  • Titus 3:3

    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

  • Isaiah 28:22

    Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

  • Romans 6:17-22

    But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. …

  • Jeremiah 9:15

    Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

  • Lamentations 3:19

    Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

  • Deuteronomy 32:32-33

    For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

  • Deuteronomy 29:18-20

    Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.

  • Jeremiah 4:18

    Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the gall.
De 29:18-20; 32:32,33; Job 20:14; Jer 4:18; 9:15; La 3:5,19
Heb 12:15
the bond.
Ps 116:16; Pr 5:22; Isa 28:22; Joh 8:34; Ro 6:17-22; Tit 3:3
2Pe 2:4,19

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

Context

  • Acts 8:22

    Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

  • Acts 8:23

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

  • Acts 8:24

    Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Read all of Acts 8

Acts 8:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque en hiel de amargura y en prisión de maldad veo que estás.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car je vois que tu es dans un fiel d’amertume et dans un lien d’iniquité.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn ich sehe, daß du in Galle der Bitterkeit und in Banden der Ungerechtigkeit bist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In felle enim amaritudinis, et obligatione iniquitatis, video te esse.