“Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”
'You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God' - Peter pronounces spiritual exclusion: Simon 'has no part or share' (ouk echeis meris oude klēron) in the apostolic 'ministry' (logō toutō). The reason: 'your heart is not right before God' (hē kardia sou ouk estin eutheiei enōpion tou theou). The heart (kardia, the seat of will and intention) is the determining factor. Outward belief (v. 13) without inward transformation is not true conversion.
Church Fathers on Acts 8:21
Peter said to him, Your money perish, because you have imagined that the gift of God is to be purchased with money.— Acts 8:20 Why had not these received the Holy Ghost, when baptized? Either because Philip kept this honor for the Apostles; or, because he had not this gift (to impart); or, he was one of the Seven: which is rather to be said. Whence, I take it, this Philip was one of the Apostles. But observe; those went not forth: it was Providentially ordered that these…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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