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…

1 And when. To be fulfilled is taken in this place for to Come. For Luke beareth record again of their perseverance, when he saith that they stood all in one place until the time which was set them. Hereunto serveth the adverb with one accord. Furthermore we have before declared why the Lord did defer the sending of his spirit a whole month and one half. But the question is why he sent him upon that day chiefly. I will not refute that high and subtle interpretation of Augustine, that like as the law was given to the old people fifty days after Easter, being written in tables of Stone, by the hand of God: so the Spirit, whose office it is to write the same in our hearts, did fulfil that which was figured in the giving of the law, as many days after the resurrection of Christ, who is the true passover. Notwithstanding whereas he urgeth this his subtle interpretation as necessary, in his book of Questions upon Exodus, and in his second Epistle unto Januarius, I would wish him to be more sober and modest therein. Notwithstanding let him keep his own interpretation to himself. In the mean season, I will embrace that which is more sound: upon the feast day, wherein a great multitude was wont to resort to Jerusalem, was this miracle wrought, that it might be more famous. And truly by means hereof was it spread abroad, even unto the uttermost parts and borders of the earth.¹ For the same purpose did Christ oftentimes go up to Jerusalem upon the holy days, to the end those miracles which he wrought, might be known to many: and that in the greater assembly of people, there might be the greater fruit of his doctrine.² For so will Luke afterward declare, that Paul made hast that he might come to Jerusalem before the day of Pentecost, not for any religions sake, but because of the greater assembly, that he might profit the more. Therefore in making choice of the day, the profit of the miracle was respected: First that it might be the more extolled at Jerusalem, because the Jews were then more bent to consider the works of God: and secondly that it might be bruited abroad, even in far countries. They called it the fiftieth day, beginning to reckon at the first fruits.

1 And when. To be fulfilled is taken in this place for to Come. For Luke beareth recorde againe of their perseuerance, when he saith that they stoode al in one place vntil the time which was set them. Hereunto serueth the aduerbe with one accord. Furthermore we haue before declared why the Lord did defer the sending of his spirit a whole moneth and one halfe. But the question is why he sent him vppon that daie chiefelie. I will not refute that high and subtile interpretation of Augustine, that like as the lawe was giuen to the olde people fiftie dayes after Easter, being written in tables of Stone, by the hande of God: so the Spirite, whose office it is to write the same in our hearts, did fulfill that which was figured in the giuing of the law, as many daies after the resurrection of Christ, who is the true passeouer. Notwithstanding whereas he vrgeth this his subtile interpretation as necessarie, in his booke of Questions vpon Exodus, and in his second Epistle vnto Ianuarius, I would wish him to be more sober and modest therein. Notwithstanding let him keepe his own interpretation to himselfe. In the meane season, I will embrace that which is more sounde: vppon the feast day, wherein a great multitude was wont to resort to Ierusalem, was this miracle wrought, that it might bee more famous. And truely by meanes hereof was it spread abroade, euen vnto the vttermost partes and borders of the earth.