Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 8]
chr•mata\). Second aorist active indicative of \prospher•\. He
took Peter to be like himself, a mountebank performer who would
sell his tricks for enough money. Trafficking in things sacred
like ecclesiastical preferments in England is called "Simony"
because of this offer of Simon.
8:19 {Me also} (\kamoi\). This is the whole point with this
charlatan. He wants the power to pass on "this power." His notion
of "The Holy Spirit" was on this low level. He regarded spiritual
functions as a marketable commodity. Money "can buy diamonds, but
not wisdom, or sympathy, or faith, or holiness" (Furneaux).
8:20 {Perish with thee} (\sun soi ei• eis ap•leian\). Literally,
Be with thee for destruction. Optative for a future wish. The use
of \eis\ with the accusative in the predicate is especially
common in the LXX. The wish reveals Peter's indignation at the
base offer of Simon. Peter was no grafter to accept money for
spiritual power. He spurned the temptation. The natural meaning
of Peter's language is that Simon was on the road to destruction.
It is a warning and almost a curse on him, though verse 22
shows that there was still room for repentance. {To obtain}
(\kt•sthai\). To acquire. Usual meaning of the present tense
(infinitive middle) of \ktaomai\.
8:21 {Lot} (\kl•ros\). Same idea as "part" (\meris\), only as a
figure. {Matter} (\logoi\). Literally, word or subject (as in Lu
1:4; Ac 15:6), the power of communicating the Holy Spirit. This
use of \logos\ is in the ancient Greek. {Straight} (\eutheia\).
Quotation from Ps 78:37. Originally a mathematically straight
line as in Ac 9:11, then moral rectitude as here.
8:22 {Wickedness} (\kakias\). Only here in Luke's writings,
though old word and in LXX (cf. 1Pe 2:1,16). {If perhaps} (\ei
ara\). _Si forte_. This idiom, though with the future indicative
and so a condition of the first class (determined as fulfilled),
yet minimizes the chance of forgiveness as in Mr 11:13. Peter
may have thought that his sin was close to the unpardonable sin
(Mt 12:31), but he does not close the door of hope. {The
thought} (\h• epinoia\). Old Greek word from \epinoe•\, to think
upon, and so purpose. Only here in the N.T.
8:23 {That thou art} (\se onta\). Participle in indirect
discourse after \hor•\ (I see). {In the gall of bitterness} (\eis
chol•n pikrias\). Old word from \cholas\ either from \che•\, to
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