Actes 8:18

18 Lorsque Simon vit que le Saint-Esprit était donné par l'imposition des mains des apôtres, il leur offrit de l'argent,

Actes 8:18 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 8:18

And when Simon saw
Whence it appears, that the Holy Ghost, or his gifts, which were received by imposition of hands, were something visible and discernible; and so something external, and not internal; otherwise they would have been out of Simon's reach, and would not have fallen under his notice; but he saw,

that through laying on of the apostles' hands, the Holy Ghost was
given:
he saw, that upon this men began to prophesy, and to speak with divers tongues they had never learned, and to work miracles, cure men of their diseases, and the like: and when he observed this,

he offered them money;
to purchase such a power of conferring the like gifts, on whomsoever he should lay his hands: hence buying and selling spiritual things, or what relate thereunto, are commonly called "simony": a vice which has greatly prevailed in the church of Rome, and among its popes; and who therefore may be more properly called the successors of Simon Magus, than of Simon Peter.

Actes 8:18 In-Context

16 Car il n'était encore descendu sur aucun d'eux; ils avaient seulement été baptisés au nom du Seigneur Jésus.

17 Alors Pierre et Jean leur imposèrent les mains, et ils reçurent le Saint-Esprit.

18 Lorsque Simon vit que le Saint-Esprit était donné par l'imposition des mains des apôtres, il leur offrit de l'argent,

19 en disant: Accordez-moi aussi ce pouvoir, afin que celui à qui j'imposerai les mains reçoive le Saint-Esprit.

20 Mais Pierre lui dit: Que ton argent périsse avec toi, puisque tu as cru que le don de Dieu s'acquérait à prix d'argent!