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…

21 Thou hast no part. Some do frame this sentence otherwise, that Simon is not partaker of grace, because he setteth a price thereof. But the other reading which we have followed, is more usual: to wit, that that reason be joined to the former member. And surely it is better to knit the two sentences together thus, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the unestimable gift of the Spirit can be bought with money. Whereas the old interpreter had put, In this word: Erasmus translated it more fitly, In this business. For Peter his meaning is, that that sacrilegious person hath nothing to do in all that administration, who doth wickedly profane the same. Furthermore both the Papists & also the old divines have disputed much concerning Simon: but that which the Papists call simony, doth not agree with Simons fact. Simon would have bought the grace of the Spirit with money: the Papists apply the crime of simony unto their idle revenues. And yet I speak not this, that I may extenuate those horrible sins which reign at this day in popery, in buying & selling spiritual promotions. Now this wickedness is filthy enough of it self, in that they hold such a mart in the Church of God. And in the mean season we must note the true definition of simony: to wit, that it is a wicked buying & selling of the gifts of the Spirit, or some other such like thing, whiles that a man abuseth them unto ambition or other corruptions. Though I confess that all those imitate Simon, who strive to attain unto the government of the church by unlawful means: ⟨p. 196⟩which thing we see committed at this day without shame, as if it were lawful: and we can scarce find one Priest in all popery which is not manifestly a simoniacal person in this respect: because none can but up his head amongst them, but he must creep in by indirect means. Although we must confess, (which thing even children see, to our great shame,) that this vice is too common even amongst the false professors of the Gospel. But let us remember first, to the end we may be free from the infection of Simon, that the gifts of the Spirit are not gotten with money, but that they are given of the free and mere goodness of God, and that for the edifying of the Church: that is, that every man may study to help his brethren according to the measure of his ability:

21 Thou hast no part. Some doe frame this sentence otherwise, that Simon is not partaker of grace, because he setteth a price thereof. But the other reading which we haue followed, is more vsual: to wit, that that reason be ioyned to the former member. And surely it is better to knitte the two sentences togither thus, Thy money perish with thee, because thou thinkest that the vnestimable gift of the Spirit can be bought with money. Whereas the old interpreter had put, In this worde: Erasmus translated it more fitly, In this businesse. For Peter his meaning is, that that sacrilegious person hath nothing to doe in all that administration, who doth wickedly prophane the same. Furthermore both the Papistes & also the old diuines haue disputed much concerning Simon: but that which the Papists call simonie, doth not agree with Simons fact. Simon woulde haue bought the grace of the Spirite with money: the Papistes applie the crime of symonie vnto their idle reuenewes. And yet I speake not this, that I may extenuate those horrible sinnes which reigne at this day in popery, in bying & selling spiritual promotions. Now this wickednes is filthy inough of it self, in that they hold such a mart in the Church of God. And in the mean season we must note the true definitiō of symony: to wit, that it is a wicked buying & selling of the gifts of the Spirit, or some other such like thing, whiles that a man abuseth thē vnto ambition or other corruptions. Though I confes that al those imitate Simon, who striue to attain vnto the gouernment of the church by vnlawfull means: