Handelingen 8:23

23 Want ik zie, dat gij zijt in een gans bittere gal en samenknoping der ongerechtigheid.

Handelingen 8:23 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 8:23

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness,
&c.] Alluding to ( Deuteronomy 29:18 ) ( 32:32 ) with which compare ( Hebrews 12:15 ) and signifying, that he was in a state of nature and unregeneracy; under the power and dominion of covetousness, ambition, and hypocrisy; and in a way pernicious to himself, infectious to others, and ungrateful to God, and to good men; and that instead of the root of the matter, the truth of grace being in him, there was nothing in him but the bitter root of sin; which bore gall and wormwood, and everything that was nauseous and disagreeable:

and in the bond of iniquity;
referring to ( Proverbs 5:22 ) ( Isaiah 58:6 ) and suggesting, that he was held fast bound in the bonds of sin, and with the cords of iniquity, or was entirely under the government of his lusts: the preposition (eiv) , which we render "in", may retain here, as is by some observed, its proper sense of "for", or "into"; and have the same signification it has in ( Hebrews 1:5 ) "I will be to him for a father", or "a father", and "he shall be to me for a son", or "a son": and then the sense of Peter is, I plainly perceive and clearly see by thy words and actions, that thou art nothing else but a lump of bitter gall, and a bundle of sin and wickedness.

Handelingen 8:23 In-Context

21 Gij hebt geen deel noch lot in dit woord: want uw hart is niet recht voor God.

22 Bekeer u dan van deze uw boosheid, en bid God, of misschien u deze overlegging uws harten vergeven wierd.

23 Want ik zie, dat gij zijt in een gans bittere gal en samenknoping der ongerechtigheid.

24 Doch Simon, antwoordende, zeide: Bidt gijlieden voor mij tot den Heere, opdat niets over mij kome van hetgeen gij gezegd hebt.

25 Zij dan nu, als zij het Woord des Heeren betuigd en gesproken hadden, keerden wederom naar Jeruzalem, en verkondigden het Evangelie in vele vlekken der Samaritanen.