John Calvin Commentary Acts 8:21

"Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God." — Acts 8:21 (ASV)

You have no part. Some interpret this sentence differently, that Simon is not a partaker of grace because he sets a price on it. But the other reading, which we have followed, is more common, namely, that this reason is joined to the former clause. And surely it is better to connect the two sentences, thus: Your money perish with you, because you think that the inestimable gift of the Spirit can be bought with money. Whereas the old interpreter had put, in this word; Erasmus translated it more aptly, in this business; for Peter’s meaning is that that sacrilegious person has nothing to do in all that administration, who wickedly profanes it.

Furthermore, both the Papists and also the old theologians have disputed much concerning simony; but what the Papists call simony does not agree with Simon’s act. Simon would have bought the grace of the Spirit with money; the Papists apply the crime of simony to their idle revenues. And yet I do not say this to extenuate those horrible sins which reign today in Popery, in buying and selling spiritual promotions.

Now, this wickedness is filthy enough in itself, in that they hold such a market in the Church of God. In the meantime, we must note the true definition of simony: namely, that it is a wicked buying and selling of the gifts of the Spirit, or some other similar thing, while a man abuses them for ambition or other corruptions.

Though I confess that all those imitate Simon who strive to attain to the government of the Church by unlawful means—which we see committed today without shame, as if it were lawful—and we can scarcely find one priest in all Popery who is not manifestly a simoniacal person in this respect, because no one can rise among them unless he creeps in by indirect means.

Although we must confess (which even children see, to our great shame) that this vice is too common even among the false professors of the gospel.

But let us remember, first, so that we may be free from the infection of Simon, that the gifts of the Spirit are not obtained with money, but that they are given by the free and pure goodness of God, and that for the edifying of the Church. That is, that everyone may strive to help his brothers according to the measure of his ability; that everyone may bestow what he has received for the common good of the Church; and that the excellency of no one may hinder, but that Christ may excel all.

Nevertheless, it may seem remarkable that Peter excludes Simon from being a partaker of the Spirit, concerning special gifts, because his heart is not right before God. For the wickedness of Judas did not prevent him from having the gifts of the Spirit in great measure; neither would the gifts of the Spirit have been so corrupted among the Corinthians, if their heart had been right in the sight of God. Therefore, the reason Peter alleges seems insufficient, because many men often excel in the gifts of the Spirit, who have an unclean heart.

But, first of all, no absurdity follows if God gives such graces to men who are unworthy of them. Secondly, Peter prescribes no general rule in this place; but because the Church alone is for the most part made a partaker of the gifts of the Spirit, he pronounces that Simon, who is a stranger to Christ, is unworthy to have the same graces given him (which are bestowed upon the faithful) as if he were one of God’s household. Moreover, he had blasphemed those gifts of which he is deprived.