Discovery BoxActs 8:18-20 
Context8:18 Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit 1 was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money, 8:19 saying, “Give me this power 2 too, so that everyone I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.” 8:20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, 3 because you thought you could acquire 4 God’s gift with money!
1 tc Most witnesses (Ì45,74 A* C D E Ψ 33 1739 Ï latt sy bo) here read “the Holy Spirit” (τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, to pneuma to {agion), while a few key
2 tn Or “ability”; Grk “authority.”
3 tn Grk “May your silver together with you be sent into destruction.” This is a strong curse. The gifts of God are sovereignly bestowed and cannot be purchased.
4 tn Or “obtain.”
