But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
9. A certain man named Simon. This was such a let that it might seem that the gospel could have no passage to come unto the Samaritans; for the minds of them all were bewitched with Simon’s jugglings. And this amazedness was grown to some strength by reason of long space of time.
Here is Samson's riddle solved: out of the strong comes sweetness. The very persecution meant to destroy the church became the means of spreading it. Those who scattered did not slink away to hide but went everywhere preaching, turning their dispersal into evangelism.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 8:4-13
To whom they all gave heed,.... Were not only attentive to the strange things he did, and to the wonderful things he gave out concerning himself; but they believed what he said and did as real things, and were obedient to him: and that from the least to the greatest; which does not so much respect age, though the Ethiopic version renders it, "from the...