Acts 8:20 | Bible Study

Acts 8:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

But Kefa said to him, “Your silver go to ruin — and you with it, for thinking the free gift of God can be bought!

Berean Standard Bible:

But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

American Standard Version:

But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But^{G1161} Peter^{G4074} said^{G2036} unto^{G4314} him^{G846}, Thy^{G4675} money^{G694} perish^{G1498}^{G1519}^{G684} with^{G4862} thee^{G4671}, because^{G3754} thou hast thought^{G3543} that the gift^{G1431} of God^{G2316} may be purchased^{G2932} with^{G1223} money^{G5536}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Daniel 5:17

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Revelation 18:15

The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

2 Peter 2:14

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

2 Peter 2:17

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

2 Kings 5:15

¶ And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

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Commentary for Acts 8:20

Acts 8:20 is a part of the narrative concerning Simon the Sorcerer, who, upon seeing the apostles' ability to impart the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, offered money to acquire this power for himself. The verse captures Peter's stern rebuke of Simon's attempt to commodify the divine gift of the Holy Spirit.

The historical context of this verse is set within the early Christian church's expansion beyond Jerusalem into Samaria, as recounted in Acts 8. The themes present in Peter's response to Simon are profound and multifaceted. Firstly, it emphasizes the priceless nature of spiritual gifts, which cannot be bought or sold. The idea that one could purchase spiritual authority or divine power is depicted as deeply misguided and offensive to God. Peter's words underscore the principle that the blessings of God, particularly those of a spiritual nature, are not transactions but are given freely by grace through faith.

Additionally, the verse touches on the broader theme of simony, which is the act of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferments or spiritual things. This practice was later formally condemned by the Christian church. Peter's reprimand serves as an early scriptural warning against the commercialization of the sacred, maintaining that the sanctity of the church and its sacraments must not be tainted by materialistic motives.

In summary, Acts 8:20 reflects the early church's struggle with maintaining the purity of spiritual gifts against the backdrop of a culture where money and power often dictated influence and authority. It serves as a stark reminder that the economy of God's grace operates on principles entirely different from those of the world's marketplaces.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Strong's Number: G4074
There are 157 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Πέτρος
Transliteration: Pétros
Pronunciation: pet'-ros
Description: apparently a primary word; a (piece of) rock (larger than λίθος); as a name, Petrus, an apostle:--Peter, rock. Compare Κηφᾶς.
Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
Strong's Number: G4314
There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πρός
Transliteration: prós
Pronunciation: pros
Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
Strong's Number: G4675
There are 360 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σοῦ
Transliteration: soû
Pronunciation: soo
Description: genitive case of σύ; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
Strong's Number: G694
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀργύριον
Transliteration: argýrion
Pronunciation: ar-goo'-ree-on
Description: neuter of a presumed derivative of ἄργυρος; silvery, i.e. (by implication) cash; specially, a silverling (i.e. drachma or shekel):--money, (piece of) silver (piece).
Strong's Number: G1498
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἴην
Transliteration: eíēn
Pronunciation: i'-ane
Description: optative (i.e. English subjunctive) present of εἰμί (including the other person); might (could, would, or should) be:--mean, + perish, should be, was, were.
Strong's Number: G1519
There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰς
Transliteration: eis
Pronunciation: ice
Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
Strong's Number: G684
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀπώλεια
Transliteration: apṓleia
Pronunciation: ap-o'-li-a
Description: from a presumed derivative of ἀπόλλυμι; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal):--damnable(-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.
Strong's Number: G4862
There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σύν
Transliteration: sýn
Pronunciation: soon
Description: a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than μετά or παρά), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.:--beside, with. In composition it has similar applications, including completeness.
Strong's Number: G4671
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σοί
Transliteration: soí
Pronunciation: soy
Description: dative case of σύ; to thee:--thee, thine own, thou, thy.
Strong's Number: G3754
There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅτι
Transliteration: hóti
Pronunciation: hot'-ee
Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Strong's Number: G3543
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: νομίζω
Transliteration: nomízō
Pronunciation: nom-id'-zo
Description: from νόμος; properly, to do by law (usage), i.e. to accustom (passively, be usual); by extension, to deem or regard:-- suppose, thing, be wont.
Strong's Number: G1431
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δωρεά
Transliteration: dōreá
Pronunciation: do-reh-ah'
Description: from δῶρον; a gratuity:--gift.
Strong's Number: G2316
There are 1172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: θεός
Transliteration: theós
Pronunciation: theh'-os
Description: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ὁ) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
Strong's Number: G2932
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κτάομαι
Transliteration: ktáomai
Pronunciation: ktah'-om-ahee
Description: a primary verb; to get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own):--obtain, possess, provide, purchase.
Strong's Number: G1223
There are 580 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: διά
Transliteration: diá
Pronunciation: dee-ah'
Description: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Strong's Number: G5536
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: χρῆμα
Transliteration: chrēma
Pronunciation: khray'-mah
Description:

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