What Does Acts 8:13 Mean?
Then Simon himself also trusted; and when he had been immersed, he stayed at Philip's side, and was beside himself as he gazed at the powers and signs which were done.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.THE KEY
Simon’s trust and astonishment occupy the same moment: signs can unsettle your usual footing without making wonder identical to trust.
THE MEANING
You can trust while remaining astonished by what you see. Simon stays with Philip and beholds signs; the verse names his amazement alongside his belief. Wonder and trust share the moment, each with its own shape.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This verse dissolves the belief that astonishment means trust is absent: Simon believes and is still amazed.
THE ROOT
πιστεύω
pisteuō
GROWS FROM
πείθ-
peith-
To persuade or win confidence; the word family carries the sense of trusting and relying.
“trusted” in this verse is pisteuō. The family joins being persuaded, reliance, and steadiness: trust takes the shape of leaning your weight onto what has won confidence. Here, that trust stands alongside amazement at the signs.
ALSO GROWS
peithō: Persuade, convince, win confidence.
πείθω
It shows the confidence beneath belief as something that takes shape through persuasion.
pistis: Trust, reliance.
πίστις
This is the related noun for trust, the posture of leaning your weight into confidence.
pistos: Reliable, steady, trustworthy.
πιστός
The family links trust with steadiness, giving belief a relational texture.
THE PATTERN
Trust can live alongside astonishment; what the eyes witness can stir wonder without defining the depth of trust.
And Israel saw the great hand that the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the people stood in awe of the LORD, and they leaned their weight on the LORD and on his servant Moses.At once the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I lean my weight on you. Help where I cannot lean.Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have perceived me, you have leaned your full weight. Flourishing are those who have not perceived, and yet have leaned their weight.THE THREAD
Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have perceived me, you have leaned your full weight. Flourishing are those who have not perceived, and yet have leaned their weight.Both verses use the Greek verb πιστεύω (pisteuō, trust): Simon believes while beholding signs, and Jesus names belief that can hold without sight. The shared word separates trust itself from the amazement visible signs can stir.
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