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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/acts/8-23.htm" title="Acts 8:23">◄</a> Acts 8:24 <a href="/acts/8-25.htm" title="Acts 8:25">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/acts/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/acts/8.htm">New International Version</a> Then Simon answered, &#8220Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/acts/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!” <a href="/esv/acts/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” <a href="/bsb/acts/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” <a href="/blb/acts/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And Simon answering said, "You pray earnestly to the Lord on behalf of me, so that nothing of which you have spoken may come upon me." <a href="/kjv/acts/8.htm">King James Bible</a> Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. <a href="/nkjv/acts/8.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” <a href="/nasb_/acts/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” <a href="/nasb/acts/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> But Simon answered and said, &#8220Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/acts/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” <a href="/lsb/acts/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But Simon answered and said, “Pray earnestly to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” <a href="/amp/acts/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> But Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.” <a href="/csb/acts/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” <a href="/hcsb/acts/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Please pray to the Lord for me,&#8221 Simon replied, &#8220so that nothing you have said may happen to me.&#8221 <a href="/asv/acts/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me. <a href="/cev/acts/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Simon said, "Please pray to the Lord, so that what you said won't happen to me." <a href="/erv/acts/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me. <a href="/gwt/acts/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you said will happen to me." <a href="/gnt/acts/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> Simon said to Peter and John, "Please pray to the Lord for me, so that none of these things you spoke of will happen to me." <a href="/isv/acts/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> Simon answered, "Both of you pray to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me." <a href="/msb/acts/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then Simon answered, ?Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.? <a href="/net/acts/8.htm">NET Bible</a> But Simon replied, "You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said may happen to me." <a href="/nheb/acts/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me." <a href="/wbt/acts/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. <a href="/wey/acts/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon, "that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." <a href="/web/acts/8.htm">World English Bible</a> Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Simon answering, said, “Implore for me to the LORD, that nothing may come on me of the things you have spoken.” <a href="/blb/acts/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And Simon answering said, "You pray earnestly to the Lord on behalf of me, so that nothing of which you have spoken may come upon me." <a href="/ylt/acts/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Simon answering, said, 'Beseech ye for me unto the Lord, that nothing may come upon me of the things ye have spoken.' <a href="/slt/acts/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Simon having answered, said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that nothing which ye have spoken come upon me.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Then Simon answering, said: Pray you for me to the Lord, that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me. <a href="/cpdv/acts/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Then Simon responded by saying, “Pray for me to the Lord, so that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.” <a href="/nabre/acts/8.htm">New American Bible</a> Simon said in reply, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” <a href="/nrsvce/acts/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Then Semon answered and said, Pray God for me so that none of these things which you have spoken may come upon me. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Simon answered, and he said, “Ask God for my sake, that none of these things which you have said may come upon me.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> But Simon answered and said: Pray you both to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken come upon me.<CM> <a href="/godbey/acts/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And Simon responding said, You pray to the Lord for me, in order that none of these things of which you have spoken may come upon me. <a href="/haweis/acts/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Then Simon answering said, Pray ye for me unto the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me.<CM> <a href="/mace/acts/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Simon answered, do you pray to the Lord for me, that nothing like what you mention may befall me. <a href="/wey/acts/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me," answered Simon, "that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." <a href="/worrell/acts/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And Simon answered and said, "Pray ye to the Lord in my behalf, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me." <a href="/worsley/acts/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And Simon answered, and said, Do ye pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which ye have spoken may come upon me. <a href="/parallel/acts/8-24.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=2527" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/8.htm">Simon the Sorcerer</a> …23For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.” 24<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">Then</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4613.htm" title="4613: Simōn (N-NMS) -- Simon. Of Hebrew origin; Simon, the name of nine Israelites.">Simon</a> <a href="/greek/611.htm" title="611: Apokritheis (V-APP-NMS) -- From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.">answered,</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipen (V-AIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say."></a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymeis (PPro-N2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">“</a> <a href="/greek/1189.htm" title="1189: Deēthēte (V-AMP-2P) -- To want for myself; I want, need; I beg, request, beseech, pray. Middle voice of deo; to beg, i.e. Petition.">Pray</a> <a href="/greek/4314.htm" title="4314: pros (Prep) -- To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.">to</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2962.htm" title="2962: Kyrion (N-AMS) -- Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.">Lord</a> <a href="/greek/5228.htm" title="5228: hyper (Prep) -- Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. ">for</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: emou (PPro-G1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">me,</a> <a href="/greek/3704.htm" title="3704: hopōs (Conj) -- From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual).">so that</a> <a href="/greek/3367.htm" title="3367: mēden (Adj-NNS) -- No one, none, nothing. ">nothing</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hōn (RelPro-GNP) -- Who, which, what, that. "></a> <a href="/greek/2046.htm" title="2046: eirēkate (V-RIA-2P) -- Probably a fuller form of rheo; an alternate for epo in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. Speak or say.">you have said</a> <a href="/greek/1904.htm" title="1904: epelthē (V-ASA-3S) -- From epi and erchomai; to supervene, i.e. Arrive, occur, impend, attack, influence.">may happen</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: ep’ (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">to</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: eme (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">me.”</a> 25And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/james/5-16.htm">James 5:16</a> Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. <a href="/1_john/1-9.htm">1 John 1:9</a> If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. <a href="/matthew/6-12.htm">Matthew 6:12</a> And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. <a href="/luke/11-4.htm">Luke 11:4</a> And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” <a href="/2_chronicles/7-14.htm">2 Chronicles 7:14</a> and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. <a href="/psalms/51-1.htm">Psalm 51:1-2</a> For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. / Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. <a href="/psalms/32-5.htm">Psalm 32:5</a> Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah <a href="/proverbs/28-13.htm">Proverbs 28:13</a> He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. <a href="/isaiah/55-7.htm">Isaiah 55:7</a> Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. <a href="/ezekiel/18-21.htm">Ezekiel 18:21-23</a> But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. / None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live. / Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live? <a href="/1_kings/8-33.htm">1 Kings 8:33-34</a> When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple, / then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to their fathers. <a href="/jeremiah/31-34.htm">Jeremiah 31:34</a> No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.” <a href="/daniel/9-19.htm">Daniel 9:19</a> O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.” <a href="/matthew/18-21.htm">Matthew 18:21-22</a> Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” / Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! <a href="/mark/11-25.htm">Mark 11:25</a> And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then answered Simon, and said, Pray you to the LORD for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come on me.Pray.<a href="/genesis/20-7.htm">Genesis 20:7,17</a> Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine… <a href="/exodus/8-8.htm">Exodus 8:8</a> Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.<a href="/exodus/10-17.htm">Exodus 10:17</a> Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/8-22.htm">Beseech</a> <a href="/acts/23-19.htm">Me</a> <a href="/acts/8-22.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/acts/8-18.htm">Simon</a> <a href="/acts/8-22.htm">Supplicate</a> <a href="/acts/6-3.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/21-39.htm">Beseech</a> <a href="/acts/8-31.htm">Me</a> <a href="/acts/9-11.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/acts/9-43.htm">Simon</a> <a href="/zechariah/7-2.htm">Supplicate</a> <a href="/acts/10-28.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 8</div>1. <a href="/acts/8-1.htm">By occasion of the persecution in Jerusalem, the church being planted in Samaria, </a> 4. <a href="/acts/8-4.htm">by Philip the deacon, who preached, did miracles, and baptized many;</a> 9. <a href="/acts/8-9.htm">among the rest Simon the sorcerer, a great seducer of the people;</a> 14. <a href="/acts/8-14.htm">Peter and John come to confirm and enlarge the church; </a> 15. <a href="/acts/8-15.htm">where, by prayer and imposition of hands giving the Holy Spirit;</a> 18. <a href="/acts/8-18.htm">when Simon would have bought the like power of them, </a> 20. <a href="/acts/8-20.htm">Peter sharply reproving his hypocrisy and covetousness, </a> 22. <a href="/acts/8-22.htm">and exhorting him to repentance, </a> 25. <a href="/acts/8-25.htm">together with John preaching the word of the Lord, return to Jerusalem;</a> 26. <a href="/acts/8-26.htm">but the angel sends Philip to teach and baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Then Simon answered Simon the Sorcerer, also known as Simon Magus, was a figure in Samaria who practiced sorcery and amazed the people with his magic. His response here follows Peter's rebuke for attempting to buy the power of the Holy Spirit with money. This highlights the early church's struggle against syncretism and the misunderstanding of spiritual gifts. Simon's answer indicates a moment of self-reflection and fear, showing the impact of apostolic authority.“Pray to the Lord for me Simon requests intercession from Peter, acknowledging the apostles' connection to God. This reflects a common practice in the early church where believers sought the prayers of those they considered spiritually mature. It also shows Simon's recognition of his own inadequacy in approaching God directly, a theme seen in other biblical figures who sought intercession, such as the Israelites asking Moses to speak to God on their behalf (<a href="/exodus/20-19.htm">Exodus 20:19</a>).so that nothing you have said Peter had warned Simon of the dire consequences of his actions, including the possibility of perishing with his money. This phrase indicates Simon's fear of judgment and his desire to avoid the repercussions of his sin. It underscores the seriousness with which the early church viewed the purity of the gospel message and the dangers of attempting to manipulate or commercialize spiritual gifts.may happen to me.” Simon's plea reveals his concern for his own well-being, rather than a genuine repentance or understanding of the gravity of his sin. This reflects a common human tendency to seek relief from consequences rather than true transformation. The narrative leaves Simon's ultimate fate ambiguous, prompting readers to consider the nature of true repentance and the importance of aligning one's heart with God's will. This moment serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of superficial faith and the need for sincere conversion.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/simon_the_sorcerer.htm">Simon the Sorcerer</a> A man from Samaria who practiced sorcery and amazed the people. He believed and was baptized but later tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles. 2. <a href="/topical/p/philip_the_evangelist.htm">Philip the Evangelist</a> One of the seven deacons chosen in <a href="/bsb/acts/6.htm">Acts 6</a>, who preached the gospel in Samaria, leading many, including Simon, to believe and be baptized. 3. <a href="/topical/p/peter_and_john.htm">Peter and John</a> Apostles sent from Jerusalem to Samaria to pray for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. Peter rebukes Simon for his attempt to buy spiritual power. 4. <a href="/topical/s/samaria.htm">Samaria</a> A region where Philip preached the gospel, leading to a significant number of conversions and the subsequent visit by Peter and John. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_event_of_rebuke.htm">The Event of Rebuke</a> Peter rebukes Simon for his attempt to purchase the gift of God with money, leading to Simon's plea for prayer.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_misguided_ambition.htm">The Danger of Misguided Ambition</a> Simon's desire to buy spiritual power reveals a misunderstanding of the nature of God's gifts. Spiritual gifts cannot be purchased or earned; they are given by God's grace. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_genuine_repentance.htm">The Importance of Genuine Repentance</a> Simon's request for prayer indicates a recognition of wrongdoing, but true repentance involves a change of heart and turning away from sin. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_intercessory_prayer.htm">The Role of Intercessory Prayer</a> Simon's plea for Peter to pray for him underscores the importance of interceding for others, especially those struggling with sin. <a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_the_love_of_money.htm">Guarding Against the Love of Money</a> Simon's actions serve as a warning against allowing the love of money to corrupt our spiritual pursuits and priorities. <a href="/topical/t/the_need_for_spiritual_discernment.htm">The Need for Spiritual Discernment</a> Peter's discernment in recognizing Simon's heart condition is a reminder of the need for spiritual insight when dealing with matters of faith.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 8</a> <a href="/q/what_is_being_and_existence.htm">What are the steps to get baptized?</a> <a href="/q/who_was_simon_the_sorcerer.htm">Who was Simon the Sorcerer in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/how_can_a_temple_contain_god.htm">In 2 Chronicles 2:4, how can a temple truly contain God if other passages assert He cannot be confined?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_david_justify_punishing_killers.htm">2 Samuel 4:8-11 - How can David both punish the men for killing Ishbosheth and still claim God's hand in his rise to power without contradiction?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(24) Pray ye to the Lord for me.--There is something eminently characteristic in the sorcerer's words. (1) His conscience reads "between the lines" of St. Peter's address what was not actually found there. That "if perhaps" is to him as the knell of doom. (2) He prays not for deliverance from "the bond of iniquity," but only from the vague terror of a future penalty. (3) He turns, not, as Peter had bidden him, to the Lord who was ready to forgive, but to a human mediator. Peter must pray for him who has not faith to pray for himself.At this point Simon disappears from the history of the Acts, and this seems accordingly the right place for stating briefly the later traditions as to his history. In those traditions he occupies a far more prominent position than in St. Luke's narrative, and becomes, as it has been said, the "hero of the romance of heresy," as given in the Homilies and Recognitions of the Pseudo-Clement. Born at Gittom, in Samaria (Justin, Apol. i. 26), he received his education at Alexandria, and picked up the language of a mystic Gnosticism from Dositheus (Hom. ii. c. 22; Constt. Apost. vi. 8). He had for a short time been a disciple of the Baptist (Hom. c. 23). He murdered a boy that the soul of his victim might become his familiar spirit, and give him insight into the future (Hom. ii. c. 26; Recogn. ii. 9). He carried about with him a woman of great beauty, of the name of Luna or Helena, whom he represented as a kind of incarnation of the Wisdom or Thought of God (Justin, Apol. i. 6; Hom. ii. c. 25; Euseb. Hist. ii. 13). He identified himself with the promised Paraclete and the Christ, and took the name of "He who stands," as indicating divine power (Recogn. ii. 7). He boasted that he could turn himself and others into the form of brute beasts; that he could cause statues to speak (Hom. iv. c. 4; Recogn. ii. 9, iii. 6). His life was one of ostentatious luxury. He was accompanied by the two sons of the Syro-Ph?nician woman of <a href="/mark/7-26.htm" title="The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she sought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.">Mark 7:26</a> (Hom. i. 19). After the episode related in the Acts, he went down to Caesarea, and Peter was then sent thither by James, the Bishop of Jerusalem, to confront and hold a disputation with him on various points of doctrine. From Caesarea he made his way to Tyre and Tripolis, and thence to Rome, and was there worshipped by his followers, so that an altar was seen there by Justin with an inscription, "SIMONI DEO SANCTO" (Apol. i. 56). Peter followed him, and in the reign of Claudius the two met, once more face to face, in the imperial city. According to one legend, he offered to prove his divinity by flying in the air. trusting that the demons whom he employed would support him; but, through the power of the prayers of Peter, he fell down, and had his bones broken, and then committed suicide (Constt. Apost. ii. 14; 6:9). Another represents him as buried alive at his own request, in order that he might show his power by rising on the third day from the dead, and so meeting his death (Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. vi. 20).In the midst of all this chaos of fantastic fables, we have, perhaps, one grain of fact in Justin's assertion that he had seen the altar above referred to. An altar was discovered at Rome in 1574, on the island in the Tiber, with the inscription "SEMONI SANCO DEO FIDIO." Archaeologists, however, agree in thinking that this was dedicated to the Sabine Hercules, who was known as SEMO SANCUS, and it has been thought by many writers that Justin may have seen this or some like altar, and, in his ignorance of Italian mythology, have imagined that it was consecrated to the Sorcerer of Samaria. His statement is repeated by Tertullian (Apol. c. 13) and Irenaeus (i. 20). Of the three names in the inscription, Semo (probably connected with Semen as the God of Harvest, or as Semihomo) appears by itself in the Hymn of the Fratres Arvales, and in connection with Sancus and Fidius (probably connected with Fides, and so employed in the formula of asseveration, medius fidius) in Ovid, Fast. vi. 213; Livy, viii. 20; 32:1.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 24. - And Simon answered for then answered Simon, A.V.; .for me to the Lord for to the Lord for me, A.V.; the for these, A.V. Pray ye, etc.; addressed to both Peter and John, who were acting together, and whose prayers had been seen to be effectual (ver. 15) in procuring the gift of the Holy Ghost. In like manner, Pharaoh, under the influence of terror at God's judgments, had asked again and again for the prayers of Moses and Aaron (<a href="/exodus/8-8.htm">Exodus 8:8, 28</a>; <a href="/exodus/9-27.htm">Exodus 9:27, 28</a>; <a href="/exodus/10-16.htm">Exodus 10:16, 17</a>, etc.). But in neither ease was this an evidence of true conversion of heart. <a href="/commentaries/acts/8-24.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Then δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. Simon Σίμων (Simōn) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4613.htm">Strong's 4613: </a> Simon. Of Hebrew origin; Simon, the name of nine Israelites. answered, Ἀποκριθεὶς (Apokritheis) Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_611.htm">Strong's 611: </a> From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak. “Pray Δεήθητε (Deēthēte) Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1189.htm">Strong's 1189: </a> To want for myself; I want, need; I beg, request, beseech, pray. Middle voice of deo; to beg, i.e. Petition. to πρὸς (pros) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4314.htm">Strong's 4314: </a> To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward. the τὸν (ton) Article - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Lord Κύριον (Kyrion) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2962.htm">Strong's 2962: </a> Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master. for ὑπὲρ (hyper) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_5228.htm">Strong's 5228: </a> Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. me, ἐμοῦ (emou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. so that ὅπως (hopōs) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3704.htm">Strong's 3704: </a> From hos and pos; what(-ever) how, i.e. In the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual). nothing μηδὲν (mēden) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3367.htm">Strong's 3367: </a> No one, none, nothing. you have said εἰρήκατε (eirēkate) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2046.htm">Strong's 2046: </a> Probably a fuller form of rheo; an alternate for epo in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. Speak or say. may happen ἐπέλθῃ (epelthē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1904.htm">Strong's 1904: </a> From epi and erchomai; to supervene, i.e. Arrive, occur, impend, attack, influence. to ἐπ’ (ep’) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. me.” ἐμὲ (eme) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/8-24.htm">Acts 8:24 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/8-24.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 8:24 Simon answered Pray for me to (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/8-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 8:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 8:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/8-25.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 8:25"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 8:25" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>