Bible Strands
Acts 8:20
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Peter addresses Simon Magus immediately after Simon offers money to acquire the apostolic power to impart the Holy Spirit. The confrontation occurs during Peter and John’s ministry in Samaria following Philip’s preaching.
The words — ἀργύριον (argurion) denotes the specific silver coins Simon proposed as payment. Peter’s curse ties this material currency directly to the recipient’s spiritual ruin.
The thread — This rejection of purchased grace parallels Matthew 10:8’s command to give freely what was received freely. It also echoes Daniel 5:17’s refusal to accept royal gifts that compromise covenant loyalty.
Why it lands — The text explicitly states that the gift of God cannot be obtained through monetary transaction. Readers must abandon any presumption that spiritual authority or blessing can be secured by wealth.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Cross-references
- Daniel 5:17 In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.
- Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
- Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Revelation 18:15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn,
- 1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
- James 5:3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.
- 2 Peter 2:14 Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.
- 2 Kings 5:15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
- Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
- Acts 10:45 All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.