To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Read Chapter 8
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
This man is the power of God, which is called (that is, which is truly) great. Simon pretended to be God, and the great God. See St. Iren us, lib. i. chap. 20.
And that was fulfilled which was spoken by Christ, There shall come false Christs and false Prophets in My name.— Matthew 24:24 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
And (yet) great signs had been done: how then had they not received the Spirit? They had received the Spirit, namely, of remission of sins: but the Spirit of miracles they had not received. For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (v. 16, 17.) For, to show that this was the case, and that it was the Spirit of miracles they had not received, observe how, having seen the result, Simon came and asked for this. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. (v. 18, 19.)
The persecution, say you, gained strength. True, but at that very time to men possessed before (by a hostile power) it brought deliverance. For it planted the miracles like a stronghold, in the heart of the enemy's country.— Not even t...
