Acts 8:25
in Acts 8And 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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.
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.
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This verse in Acts 8
Commentary
9 notes on this verse"And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned back to Jerusalem." Perhaps they returned because of Simon, so as not to be deceived and so as to remain firm afterwards. Note that they do not go to Samaria from …
This site's exposition
in many of the Samaritan villages
Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages. In Luke 9:52 to 54 James and John had asked to call down fire on a Samaritan village that refused Jesus. Here John preaches in the villages of that same people.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"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.
"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.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Lastly, Here is the return of the apostles to Jerusalem, when they had finished the business they came about; for as yet they were not to disperse; but, though they came hither to do that work which was peculiar to them as apostles, yet, opportunity offering itself, they applied themselves to that which was common to all gospel ministers.
And they, when they had testified, &c.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
In many villages ... - They went at first directly to the “city” of Samaria. On their return to Jerusalem they travelled more at leisure, and preached in the villages also - a good example for the ministers of the gospel, and for all Christians, when traveling from place to place. The reason why they returned to Jerusalem, and made that their permanent abode, might have been, that it was important to bear witness to the resurrection of Christ in the very city where he had been crucified, and where his resurrection had occurred.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
"With this narrative of the progress of the Gospel among the Samaritans is connected another which points to the diffusion of the doctrine of the Cross among the remotest nations.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
And they, when they had - preached - returned to Jerusalem - That is, Peter and John returned, after they had borne testimony to and confirmed the work which Philip had wrought.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οἱ | hoi | They | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| διαμαρτυράμενοι | diamarturamenoi | having earnestly testified | G1263 → | 15 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| λαλήσαντες | lalesantes | having spoken | G2980 → | 294 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγον | logon | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίου | kuriou | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ὑπέστρεφον | hupestrephon | were travelling back | G5290 → | 35 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Ἱεροσόλυμα, | hi'erosoluma | Jerusalem, | G2414 → | 62 times |
| πολλάς | pollas | to many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| τε | te | then | G5037 → | 213 times |
| κώμας | komas | villages | G2968 → | |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Σαμαριτῶν | samariton | Samaritans | G4541 → | |
| εὐηγγελίζοντο.¶ | euengelizonto | they were evangelising. | G2097 → | 54 times |
οἱThey
hoiG3588 →19766 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
διαμαρτυράμενοιhaving earnestly testified
diamarturamenoiG1263 →15 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
λαλήσαντεςhaving spoken
lalesantesG2980 →294 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
λόγονword
logonG3056 →329 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
κυρίουLord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
ὑπέστρεφονwere travelling back
hupestrephonG5290 →35 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
Ἱεροσόλυμα,Jerusalem,
hi'erosolumaG2414 →62 times
πολλάςto many
pollasG4183 →367 times
τεthen
teG5037 →213 times
κώμαςvillages
komasG2968 →
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ΣαμαριτῶνSamaritans
samaritonG4541 →
εὐηγγελίζοντο.¶they were evangelising.
euengelizontoG2097 →54 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 5:12Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:22
I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have only written to you briefly.
- Hebrews 13:22
Through
Acts 20:21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
it leads to
- Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 11:18
When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- 1 John 5:11–13
And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
- 2 Timothy 2:25–26
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Acts 2:38
Through
John 15:27And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
- John 21:24
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
- 1 John 4:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies14
On this chapter
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 18; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.