Acts 8:23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
The setting
Samaria, ~35 AD. Peter's final diagnosis of Simon's spiritual condition. He sees beyond the surface to Simon's enslaved soul in Samaria, Palestine.
The emotion here: grieved at seeing spiritual slavery
The original word
cholē (χολή) — literally bile, the most bitter substance the body produces
Why it matters
Gall mixed with wine was given to Jesus on the cross as a pain killer
Read with care
What most readers miss in Acts 8:23
Peter uses medical language — he's diagnosing Simon like a spiritual doctor
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about being angry, but 'gall of bitterness' refers to being poisoned by resentment that controls your entire spiritual life.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Acts 8:23
Bible Genome reading
Acts 8:23 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Acts 8:23 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Peter. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 15% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include bondage, bitterness. Notable phrases: gall of bitterness; bondage of iniquity.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Acts 8:23 mean to you, today?
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