Acts 8:23

Easy-to-Read Version

I see that you are full of bitter jealousy and cannot stop yourself from doing wrong."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.”

King James Version (1611)
For I perceiue that thou art in the gall of bitternesse, and in the bond of iniquitie.

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

English Standard Version
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

New American Standard Bible
"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness."

New Century Version
I see that you are full of bitter jealousy and ruled by sin."

Amplified Bible
"For I see that you are provoked by bitterness and bound by sin."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

Legacy Standard Bible
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness."

Berean Standard Bible
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity."

Contemporary English Version
I can see that you are jealous and bound by your evil ways."

Complete Jewish Bible
For I see that you are extremely bitter and completely under the control of sin!"

Darby Translation
for I see thee to be in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For I see that thou art in the gall of bitternes, and in the bonde of iniquitie.

George Lamsa Translation
For I see your heart is as bitter as gall and you are in the bonds of iniquity.

Good News Translation
For I see that you are full of bitter envy and are a prisoner of sin."

Lexham English Bible
For I see you are in a state of bitter envy and bound by unrighteousness."

Literal Translation
For I see you being in the gall of bitterness and a bundle of unrighteousness.

American Standard Version
For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.

Bible in Basic English
For I see that you are prisoned in bitter envy and the chains of sin.

Hebrew Names Version
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

International Standard Version
For I see that you're turning into bitter poison and that you're being chained by wickedness!"Hebrews 12:15;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
for in bitter gall and in the bonds of iniquity I see that thou art.

Murdock Translation
For I perceive that thou art in the bitter gall and in the bonds of iniquity.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I perceaue yt thou art in the gall of bitternesse, & wrapped in iniquitie.

English Revised Version
For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.

World English Bible
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I see, thou art in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity.

Weymouth's New Testament
For I perceive that you have fallen into the bitterest bondage of unrighteousness."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Y se that thou art in the gall of bitternesse and in the boond of wickidnesse.

Update Bible Version
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity.

New English Translation
For I see that you are bitterly envious and in bondage to sin."

New King James Version
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."

New Living Translation
for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin."

New Life Bible
I see that you are full of jealousy and chained by your sin."

New Revised Standard
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For see that thou servest as a gall-root of bitterness, and a bond of unrighteousness.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I see thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity.

Revised Standard Version
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For I perceave that thou arte full of bitter gall and wrapped in iniquite.

Young's Literal Translation
for in the gall of bitterness, and bond of unrighteousness, I perceive thee being.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For I se, yt thou art full of bytter gall, and wrapped in wt vnrighteousnesse.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for I perceive you are upon the brink of misery, led captive by your sin.

Simplified Cowboy Version
You are full of sin, and I can see your god is money."

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted the word of God. So they sent Peter and John to the people in Samaria. ¹⁵ When Peter and John arrived, they prayed for the Samaritan believers to receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ These people had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, but the Holy Spirit had not yet come down on any of them. This is why Peter and John prayed. ¹⁷ When the two apostles laid their hands on the people, they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Simon saw that the Spirit was given to people when the apostles laid their hands on them. So he offered the apostles money. ¹⁹ He said, "Give me this power so that when I lay my hands on someone, they will receive the Holy Spirit." ²⁰ Peter said to Simon, "You and your money should both be destroyed because you thought you could buy God's gift with money. ²¹ You cannot share with us in this work. Your heart is not right before God. ²² Change your heart! Turn away from these evil thoughts and pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you. ²³ I see that you are full of bitter jealousy and cannot stop yourself from doing wrong."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the gall: Deuteronomy 29:18-20, Deuteronomy 32:32, Deuteronomy 32:33, Job 20:14, Jeremiah 4:18, Jeremiah 9:15, Lamentations 3:5, Lamentations 3:19, Hebrews 12:15

the bond: Psalms 116:16, Proverbs 5:22, Isaiah 28:22, John 8:34, Romans 6:17-22, Titus 3:3, 2 Peter 2:4, 2 Peter 2:19

Reciprocal: Hosea 10:4 - thus

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness,.... Alluding to Deuteronomy 29:18 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 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 εις, 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 people 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 Deuteronomy 29:18, “Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood.” A similar expression occurs in Hebrews 12:15, “Lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you.” “Sin” is thus represented as a “bitter” or poisonous thing; a tiring not only “unpleasant” in its consequences, but ruinous in its character, as a poisonous plant would be in the midst of other plants, Jeremiah 2:19, “It is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God”; Jeremiah 4:18; Romans 3:14, “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; Ephesians 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 captive. Sin is often thus represented as “bondage” and “captivity,” Psalms 116:16; Proverbs 5:22, “He shall be holden with the cords of his sins”; Romans 7:23-24. These expressions prove conclusively that Simon was a stranger to religion.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 8:23. 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, c., c., which it produces. In Deuteronomy 29:18, idolatry and its consequences are expressed, by having among them a root that beareth GALL and WORMWOOD. And in Hebrews 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.