Acts 8 20

Acts 8:20 kjv

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Acts 8:20 nkjv

But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!

Acts 8:20 niv

Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

Acts 8:20 esv

But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

Acts 8:20 nlt

But Peter replied, "May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought!

Acts 8 verses

Acts 8 20 Meaning

Acts 8:20 presents Peter's powerful condemnation of Simon the Sorcerer, who attempted to purchase the spiritual authority to impart the Holy Spirit. Peter declares a severe judgment upon Simon and his money, emphasizing that God's divine gift cannot be acquired through monetary means. The verse underscores the fundamental principle that spiritual blessings and the Holy Spirit Himself are freely given by God's grace, entirely distinct from any material transaction or human effort to buy them. It reveals the error of reducing divine power to a commercial commodity and highlights the danger of covetousness corrupting spiritual motives.

Acts 8 20 Context

Acts chapter 8 describes the spread of the Gospel into Samaria through Philip's ministry. Philip performs signs and wonders, and many Samaritans believe and are baptized. However, the Holy Spirit has not yet fallen upon them. Peter and John are sent from Jerusalem to Samaria, and when they lay hands on the believers, the Holy Spirit is imparted. Among those who had initially believed and been baptized was a man named Simon, a renowned sorcerer in Samaria. He had previously astounded the people with his magical practices, making them believe he was "the great power of God" (Acts 8:9-11). Simon witnessed the apostles' ability to impart the Spirit and, being captivated by this display of power rather than true repentance or understanding, offered Peter and John money, seeking to purchase this authority for himself. This verse, Acts 8:20, is Peter's immediate and sharp retort to Simon's proposition, exposing his fundamentally flawed understanding and corrupted motives. It directly challenges the pagan mindset prevalent in the Roman world where spiritual favors, prophecies, or blessings could often be obtained through monetary offerings or gifts.

Acts 8 20 Word analysis

• Πέτρος δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν, (Petros de eipen pros auton): "But Peter said to him."
  • δὲ (de): "But/And." Indicates a shift or a contrast, highlighting Peter's strong response in opposition to Simon's action.
  • εἶπεν (eipen): "said." Simple past tense, direct address.
• Τὸ ἀργύριόν σου σὺν σοὶ εἴη εἰς ἀπώλειαν, (To argyrion sou syn soi eiē eis apōleian): "May your silver perish with you into destruction."
  • ἀργύριόν (argyrión): "silver," used metaphorically and commonly for "money" or "wealth." Significance: Peter directly links the object of Simon's lust to his personal fate, showing that material possessions, especially when coveted for unholy purposes, can become a source of ruin. It directly attacks Simon's materialistic motivation.
  • σου (sou): "your." Possessive, personalizes the judgment.
  • σὺν σοὶ (syn soi): "with you." This phrase indicates a shared destiny. Peter wishes for Simon's money to perish alongside him, implying both the means (money) and the one employing them (Simon) face judgment.
  • εἴη (eiē): "may it be." Optative mood, expressing a wish, a curse, or a strong imprecation. It's a prayer-like pronouncement of judgment.
  • εἰς ἀπώλειαν (eis apōleian): "unto destruction," "into perdition," "into perishing."
    • ἀπώλειαν (apōleian): This term signifies complete ruin, waste, or spiritual destruction. It is a powerful term often used in the New Testament to denote spiritual damnation, separation from God, or utter ruin. Significance: Peter is not merely wishing financial loss; he is invoking a deep, possibly eternal, spiritual calamity upon Simon if his heart is not transformed. This is not simply about physical death but profound spiritual ruin that results from misusing sacred things and pursuing unholy gain. It implies a moral and spiritual bankruptcy leading to utter loss.
• ὅτι τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐνόμισας διὰ χρημάτων κτᾶσθαι. (hoti tēn dōrean tou Theou enomisasa dia chrēmatōn ktasthai): "because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money."
  • ὅτι (hoti): "because," "that." Introduces the reason for Peter's severe pronouncement.
  • τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ (tēn dōrean tou Theou): "the gift of God."
    • δωρεὰν (dōrean): "gift." This word explicitly highlights the gratuitous nature of God's blessing – something freely given without cost or merit from the receiver. Significance: This is central to Peter's rebuke. It defines the Holy Spirit and His powers as exclusively God's bestowal, contrasting sharply with Simon's attempt to commodify it. It affirms the sovereignty and generosity of God.
    • τοῦ Θεοῦ (tou Theou): "of God." Specifies the divine origin, emphasizing that this gift is solely from God and not a human-manufactured item.
  • ἐνόμισας (enomisasa): "you supposed," "you thought," "you imagined." Imperfect tense, revealing Simon's faulty, continuous thinking or understanding. Significance: It pinpoints Simon's fundamental error – a wrong assumption and twisted worldview regarding the sacred. He saw God's power through his former sorcerer's lens, where influence could be purchased.
  • διὰ χρημάτων (dia chrēmatōn): "through money," "by means of money."
    • χρημάτων (chrēmatōn): "money," "riches," "wealth." The plural further emphasizes his material focus. Significance: This phrase explicitly states the prohibited means Simon tried to employ, further highlighting the stark contrast between God's grace and human attempt at transaction.
  • κτᾶσθαι (ktasthai): "to acquire," "to gain possession of," "to purchase." Infinitve, meaning "to get." Significance: This verb reflects a transactional, commercial mentality. Simon viewed the ability to impart the Spirit as a transferable asset to be bought, showing his profound misunderstanding of divine grace and power. He saw it as a skill or product, not a sovereign act of God.

Acts 8 20 Bonus section

The phrase "May your silver perish with you" contains a strong verbal and spiritual intensity that conveys both judgment and a call to repentance. It suggests that if Simon's heart, which conceived of this transactional attempt, remains unchanged, his pursuit of earthly gain through spiritual means will lead to a shared fate of destruction for both his material wealth and his spiritual self. This is not necessarily an eternal damnation, but certainly a warning of profound spiritual loss and ruin that would render his earthly aspirations meaningless. The incident serves as a foundational historical precedent against simony in the Church. Throughout history, the Church has contended with individuals and systems attempting to monetize spiritual roles, sacraments, or divine favor, demonstrating the lasting relevance of Peter's uncompromising rebuke to Simon. The early church had just experienced the gravity of lying about money to the Holy Spirit with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, showing a consistent stance against material dishonesty in spiritual matters.

Acts 8 20 Commentary

Peter's fiery response in Acts 8:20 serves as a crucial theological declaration against any attempt to commodify or manipulate the sacred gifts of God, particularly the Holy Spirit. Simon's offer of money betrayed a pagan and utterly un-Christian mindset that saw divine power as something to be acquired, controlled, and perhaps even exploited for personal gain, much like his previous magical feats. Peter's pronouncement "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!" (ESV) is not merely a harsh rejection but a prophetic curse on such an abominable proposition. It highlights several critical points:

1. The Freeness of Grace: God's gifts, especially the Holy Spirit, are absolutely free, dispensed by His sovereign grace, not by human currency or merit (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 6:23).
2. The Intolerance of Materialism in Spiritual Things: Attempting to mix the sacred with commercial transactions reveals a heart utterly unregenerate or gravely mistaken. This error, known historically as "Simony," refers to the sin of buying or selling spiritual offices or blessings.
3. Spiritual Consequences of Wrong Motives: Simon's motive was power, not devotion; recognition, not repentance. This reveals that outward belief and baptism are insufficient without inward transformation. Peter's curse is directed not just at the money but at the corrupt heart from which the offer stemmed, hinting at a path towards destruction if such a mindset persists. It underscores the spiritual danger of loving money over God (1 Tim 6:10).

This verse sets a vital boundary for Christian ethics and ministry: divine power is given to serve, not to profit. It condemns any practice where spiritual gifts, offices, or ministry are bought, sold, or used for financial exploitation, serving as an eternal warning against corrupting the purity of the Gospel.