But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Ver. 9. Which beforetime, &c.] Or, which was master of the magicians, προυπηρχεν. Sed quae traduntur de modo disceptationis Petri cum Simone Mago δραματικα potius quam ιστορικα esse videntur.
Bewitched the people] Gr. εξιστων. Carried them out of themselves, as in an ecstasy, so that they were more his than their own.
Some great thing] Such a blab the devil had blown up there, as a small wind may blow up a bubble.