Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 8:23

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

The same with gall and wormwood, Deut. 29.18. or gall and bitterness; signifying a very bad constitution, and disposition of Soul or mind▪ such as may be compared unto that meat, which the gall of any Creature hath corrupted. And for Simon Magus to be in the gall of bitterness, is yet worse than to have the gall of bitterness in him; as to be born in sin, which the Pharises upbraided the blind man with, Iohn 9.34. denotes more intended thereby, than that he had sin from his birth in him; thus David bewails, That he was shapen in iniquity, Psal. 51.5. and thus may those expressions of St. Paul be understood, of being in the flesh, and being in the spirit, Rom. 8.9. This also shews, (if any sensible or outward thing could shew it) what a bitter and poisonous thing sin is, no gall so bitter, no poison so deadly. Either the judgment St. Peter had threatned to deter him from sin, was this bond, or his sin it self might be rather so called; thus we read of the bonds of iniquity, Isaiah 58.6. One sin is twisted with another; hard to be severed or broken, and draws on judgment powerfully.