And there was great joy - This joy arose:

(1) From the fact that so many persons, before sick and afflicted, were restored to health.

(2) from the conversion of individuals to Christ.

(3) from the mutual joy of "families" and "friends" that their friends were converted. The tendency of a revival of religion is thus to produce great joy.

There was great joy in that city - No wonder, when they heard such glorious truths, and were the subjects of such beneficent miracles.

And there was great joy in that city. Both on a spiritual account, for the good of their souls, through the preaching of Christ and his Gospel to them; and on a temporal account; for the good of their bodies, or their friends, being dispossessed of devils, and healed of their diseases.

And there was great joy in that city.

8:6-8 The people with one accord gave heed. It was the miracles that, at first, fixed their attention. Observe that Philip, another of the seven, has the gift of miracles, the second recorded instance in the church of the possession of this power by one not an apostle (for the first, see Ac 6:8). Ac 8:9 describes the nature of his miracles, similar to those of Christ. See PNT Mt 4:24. See also Mr 3:11 Lu 4:41.

8. great joy in that city-over the change wrought on it by the Gospel, as well as the cures which attested its divine character.

8:5-13 As far as the gospel prevails, evil spirits are dislodged, particularly unclean spirits. All inclinations to the lusts of the flesh which war against the soul are such. Distempers are here named, the most difficult to be cured by the course of nature, and most expressive of the disease of sin. Pride, ambition, and desire after grandeur have always caused abundance of mischief, both to the world and to the church. The people said of Simon, This man is the great power of God. See how ignorant and thoughtless people mistake. But how strong is the power of Divine grace, by which they were brought to Christ, who is Truth itself! The people not only gave heed to what Philip said, but were fully convinced that it was of God, and not of men, and gave up themselves to be directed thereby. Even bad men, and those whose hearts still go after covetousness, may come before God as his people come, and for a time continue with them. And many wonder at the proofs of Divine truths, who never experience their power. The gospel preached may have a common operation upon a soul, where it never produced inward holiness. All are not savingly converted who profess to believe the gospel.