BornAgain

The gifts of God—salvation, grace, the Holy Spirit, and countless blessings—are offered freely to humanity, not because of merit, but because of His boundless love. This profound truth is illustrated vividly in the Book of Acts, where a man named Simon the Sorcerer sought to purchase the gift of the Holy Spirit. His misguided attempt to commodify what God gives freely is met with strong rebuke from the Apostle Peter, offering us a lesson that reverberates throughout Scripture. Simon the Sorcerer: A Cautionary Tale In Acts 8:18-20, Simon the Sorcerer, amazed by the power of the Holy Spirit imparted through the apostles, offered them money, saying, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter’s response was sharp: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:20) . This passage underscores a fundamental principle: God’s gifts are not for sale. They are not commodities ...