Πέτρος δὲ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· τὸ ἀργύριόν σου σὺν σοὶ εἴη εἰς ἀπώλειαν, ὅτι τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐνόμισας διὰ χρημάτων κτᾶσθαι. (Acts 8:20)
But Peter said to him, May your silver be with you for destruction, because you thought to acquire the gift of God through money.
Apostolic Rebuke in Rare Grammar
In Acts 8:20, Peter confronts Simon Magus, who thought he could purchase the power of the Holy Spirit. The verse is memorable not only for its severity but also for its striking use of the optative mood (εἴη) and an infinitival clause (κτᾶσθαι) that exposes Simon’s distorted assumption. The grammar itself mirrors the clash between divine gift and human greed.
The Optative of Wishing: σὺν σοὶ εἴη εἰς ἀπώλειαν
– εἴη: present optative of εἰμί, 3rd person singular.
– Here it is a voluntative optative — a “wish” or “curse.”
Thus τὸ ἀργύριόν σου σὺν σοὶ εἴη εἰς ἀπώλειαν means:
“May your silver perish with you!”
This rare use of the optative in the NT conveys sharp denunciation, invoking destruction rather than prediction. The phrase recalls prophetic speech where wealth leads to ruin.
Reason Introduced by ὅτι
The causal clause explains why Peter utters such a severe judgment:
ὅτι τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐνόμισας διὰ χρημάτων κτᾶσθαι
“because you thought that the gift of God could be acquired with money.”
– ἐνόμισας – aorist active indicative, 2nd person singular of νομίζω, “to suppose, think.”
– The verb often implies a mistaken assumption — a thought contrary to reality.
– The construction sets up the infinitive clause that follows.
The Infinitival Accusation: κτᾶσθαι
– κτᾶσθαι: present middle infinitive of κτάομαι, “to acquire, obtain.”
– Infinitives in Greek often function as the content of thought or direct object of verbs like νομίζω.
– Here, διὰ χρημάτων κτᾶσθαι = “to acquire through money.”
Thus Simon’s sin is laid bare grammatically: he “supposed” (ἐνόμισας) the infinitival possibility of buying God’s free gift.
Table: Grammatical Arrows of Rebuke
| Greek Expression | Form | Function | Interpretive Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| εἴη | Optative of wish | Curses silver with destruction | Rare NT optative; rhetorical force |
| ἐνόμισας | Aorist indicative | Frames mistaken thought | Marks Simon’s error in judgment |
| διὰ χρημάτων κτᾶσθαι | Prepositional phrase + infinitive | Defines the content of the error | Buying the gift is the impossibility |
Theology of Gift vs. Transaction
Peter’s grammar is as uncompromising as his theology.
– The optative curse dismisses silver to destruction.
– The infinitive construction unmasks the assumption: that God’s δωρεά could be commodified.
But the gospel is not a market. What is purchased with Christ’s blood cannot be purchased with silver. Language itself rises to defend the holiness of grace.
Silver for Perdition, Grace for Free
This verse teaches that every attempt to monetize the Spirit’s gift ends in ruin. The optative mood shouts judgment; the infinitive phrase exposes the lie. Against this stands the unmerited δωρεά — the gift of God, bought not with money, but bestowed in mercy.
The syntax reminds us: grace is not for sale.
