The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

20 Peter answered. Peter giveth him the repulse here stoutly: and being not content to chide him, he addeth a bitter curse or wish, That Simon and his money may perish together. Though he doth not so much wish unto him destruction, as he telleth him that the just vengeance of God hangeth over his head, that he might terrify him. In sum he showeth what he hath deserved, when he hath made the spirit of God subject to filthy buying, & selling: as if he should have said, Thou art worthy to perish with thy money, when thou doest so blaspheme the Spirit of God. For we may easily gather by that which followeth, that Peter would rather have had Simon saved than destroyed. But as it were supplying the place of a judge, he pronounceth what punishment Simon his ungodliness deserveth: and it was requisite that he should be thus accused with such vehemency, that he might perceive the greatness of his offence. To the same end tendeth that, that he judged his money to perish. For he signifieth that it was as it were infe••ed and polluted with cogitation of wickedness, because it was offered to such a wicked use. And surely we ought rather to wish that all the whole world perish, than that those things should darken the glory of God, which in comparison thereof are nothing worth. When he wisheth thus to a sacrilegious man, he doth not so much respect the person as the fact. For we must be offended with the offences of men in such sort, that we must pity the men themselves.¹ Such are those sentences of god which adjudge adulterers, thieves, drunkards, & wrongful dealers to destruction. For they do not cut off all hope of salvation from them, but they are only referred unto their present estate: and declare what end is prepared for them, if they go forward obstinately.

20 Peter answered. Peter giueth him the repulse here stoutly: and being not content to chide him, he addeth a bitter curse or wish, That Simon and his money may perish togither. Though he doth not so much wish vnto him destruction, as hee telleth him that the iust vengeance of God hangeth ouer his head, that he might terrifie him. In sum he sheweth what he hath deserued, when he hath made the spirit of God subiect to filthy buying, & selling: as if he should haue said, Thou art worthy to perish with thy money, when thou doest so blaspheme the Spirit of God. For wee may easily gather by that which followeth, that Peter would rather haue had Simon saued than destroyed. But as it were supplying the place of a iudge, he pronounceth what punishment Simon his vngodlinesse deserueth: and it was requisite that he should be thus accused with such vehemencie, that hee might perceiue the greatnes of his offence. To the same end tendeth that, that he iudged his money to perish. For he signifieth that it was as it were infeed and polluted with cogitation of wickednes, because it was offered to such a wicked vse. And surely we ought rather to wish that all the whole world perish, than that those things should darken the glory of God, which in comparison thereof are nothing worth. Whē he wisheth thus to a sacrilegious man, he doth not so much respect the person as the fact. For we must be offended with the offences of mē in such sort, that we must pitty the men themselues.