Acts 8:25

They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.

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Other translations

WEBBE

They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Good News to many villages of the Samaritans.

BSB

And 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.

KJV

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

ASV

They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

BBE

So they, having given their witness and made clear the word of the Lord, went back to Jerusalem, giving the good news on their way in a number of the small towns of Samaria.

Original Greek

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οἱ hoi They G3588 μὲν men indeed G3303 οὖν oun therefore G3767 διαμαρτυράμενοι diamarturamenoi having earnestly testified G1263 καὶ kai and G2532 λαλήσαντες lalēsantes having spoken G2980 τὸν ton the G3588 λόγον logon word G3056 τοῦ tou of the G3588 κυρίου kuriou Lord G2962 ὑπέστρεφον hupestrephon were travelling back G5290 εἰς eis to G1519 Ἱεροσόλυμα Hi'erosoluma Jerusalem G2414 πολλάς pollas to many G4183 τε te then G5037 κώμας kōmas villages G2968 τῶν tōn of the G3588 Σαμαριτῶν Samaritōn Samaritans G4541 εὐηγγελίζοντο.¶ euēngelizonto they were evangelising G2097

The early church

"And they, when they had testified, and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem." "Testified," probably because of him (Simon), that they may not be deceived; that thenceforth they may be safe. "Having preached," it says, "the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem." Why do they go thither again where was the tyranny of the bad, where were those most bent upon killing them? Just as generals do in wars, they occupy that part of the scene of war which is most distressed.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts
"And preached the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans." Observe them again, how they do not of set purpose come to Samaria, but driven by stress of persecution, just as it was in the case of Christ; and how when the Apostles go thither, it is to men now believers, no longer Samaritans. "But when the Apostles," it says, "which were at Jerusalem heard this, they sent unto them Peter and John." "Sent" them, again, to rid them of magic. And besides, the Lord had given them a pattern at the time when the Samaritans believed. "And in many villages," it says, "of the Samaritans, they preached the Gospel." Observe how actively employed even their journeys were, how they do nothing without a purpose.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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 should use our best endeavours to instruct those for whom we pray. Simon Magus was ambitious to have the honour of an apostle, but cared not at all to have the spirit and disposition of a Christian. He was more desirous to gain honour to himself, than to do good to others. Peter shows him his crime. He esteemed the wealth of this world, as if it would answer for things relating to the other life, and would purchase the pardon of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. This was such a condemning error as could by no means consist with a state of grace. Our hearts are what they are in the sight of God, who cannot be deceived. And if they are not right in his sight, our religion is vain, and will stand us in no stead. A proud and covetous heart cannot be right with God. It is possible for a man to continue under the power of sin, yet to put on a form of godliness. When tempted with money to do evil, see what a perishing thing money is, and scorn it. Think not that Christianity is a trade to live by in this world. There is much wickedness in the thought of the heart, its false notions, and corrupt affections, and wicked projects, which must be repented of, or we are undone. But it shall be forgiven, upon our repentance. The doubt here is of the sincerity of Simon's repentance, not of his pardon, if his repentance was sincere. Grant us, Lord, another sort of faith than that which made Simon wonder only, and did not sanctify his heart. May we abhor all thoughts of making religion serve the purposes of pride or ambition. And keep us from that subtle poison of spiritual pride, which seeks glory to itself even from humility. May we seek only the honour which cometh from God.

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Cross-references

11

People & places

Jesus Jerusalem

Topics

Zeal, ReligiousPeterSamaria

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.