מעשי השליחים 8:20

Delitzsche Hebrew New Testament

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו פֶּטְרוֹס כַּסְפְּךָ יְהִי אִתְּךָ לַאֲבַדּוֹן יַעַן אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ לִקְנוֹת בִּמְחִיר אֶת־מַתַּת הָאֱלֹהִים׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Modern Translation
ויאמר אליו פטרוס כספך יהי אתך לאבדון יען חשבת לקנות במחיר את מתת האלהים׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Thy: Acts 1:18, Deuteronomy 7:26, Joshua 7:24, Joshua 7:25, 2 Kings 5:26, 2 Kings 5:27, Daniel 5:17, Habakkuk 2:9, Habakkuk 2:10, Zechariah 5:4, Matthew 27:3-5, 1 Timothy 6:9, James 5:3, 2 Peter 2:14-17, Revelation 18:15

thou: Acts 8:22, Deuteronomy 15:9, 2 Kings 5:15, 2 Kings 5:16, Proverbs 15:26, Matthew 15:19

the gift: Acts 2:38, Acts 10:45, Acts 11:17, Matthew 10:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:26 - I pray you Numbers 22:18 - I cannot Numbers 24:11 - the Lord 2 Kings 2:24 - cursed them Proverbs 1:19 - every Isaiah 59:7 - their thoughts Matthew 9:4 - Wherefore Matthew 22:12 - how Luke 13:15 - Thou hypocrite Luke 22:5 - and covenanted Acts 13:10 - O full 2 Corinthians 6:15 - or Hebrews 6:4 - and have 1 Peter 1:7 - that

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But Peter said to him,.... With great abhorrence and indignation, resenting and detesting his proposal:

thy money perish with thee; or "go into destruction with thee"; signifying, that he would not touch his money, or have anything to do with that or him either, in any such way: the words do not so much design an imprecation on his person, as an abhorrence of his sin; and rather show what his sin deserved than what he desired might be; for the apostle did not simply wish his damnation, since he afterwards exhorts him to repentance, and to pray for forgiveness; but threatens, and even predicts what would be his case, should he live and die in such a state, in which he appeared to be:

because thou hast thought that the gift of God; the Holy Ghost, and his extraordinary gifts, which are freely given, when and to whom the Lord himself pleases:

may be purchased with money; he appears to have a wrong notion of the Spirit of God and his gifts, and of the grace of in bestowing them; as well as a wicked design of purchasing them with money, in order to sell them again; so that it was a sullying and lessening of the grace of God, as well as seeking himself, his own ambition, and filthy lucre: and let such observe how near they come to his sin, who seek to obtain the grace of justification, and the free gift of eternal life, by their own works.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thy money perish with thee - This is expressive of the horror and indignation of Peter at the base offer of Simon. It is not to be understood as an imprecation on Simon. The main idea is the apostle’s contempt for the “money,” as if he regarded it as of no value. “Let your money go to destruction. We abhor your impious offer. We can freely see “any” amount of money destroyed before we will be tempted to sell the gift of the Holy Spirit. But there was here also an expression of his belief that “Simon” also would perish. It was a declaration that he was hastening to ruin, and as if this was certain, Peter says, let your money perish “too.”

The gift of God - That which he has “given,” or conferred as a favor. The idea was absurd that what God himself gave as a sovereign could be purchased. It was “impious” to think of attempting to buy with worthless gold what was of so inestimable value. The “gift of God” here means the extraordinary influences of the Holy Spirit, Acts 10:45; Acts 11:17. How can we pay a “price” to God? All that “we” can give, the silver, and the gold, and the cattle on a thousand hills, belong to him already. We have “nothing” which we can present for his favors. And yet there are many who seek to “purchase” the favor of God. Some do it by alms and prayers; some by penance and fasting; some by attempting to make their own hearts better, and by self-righteousness; and some by penitence and tears. All these will not “purchase” his favor. Salvation, like every other blessing, will be “his gift”; and if ever received, we must be willing to accept it on his own terms; at his own time; in his own way. We are without merit; and if saved, it will be by the sovereign grace of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 8:20. Thy money perish with thee — This is an awful declaration; and imports thus much, that if he did not repent, he and his ill-gotten goods would perish together; his money should be dissipated, and his soul go into perdition.

That the gift of God may be purchased — Peter takes care to inform not only Simon, but all to whom these presents may come, that the Spirit of God is the gift of God alone, and consequently cannot be purchased with money; for what reward can HE receive from his creatures, to whom the silver and the gold belong, the cattle on a thousand hills, the earth and its fulness!