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…

The diversity of tongues did hinder the gospel from being spread abroad any farther. So that if the preachers of the Gospel had spoken one language only, all men would have thought that Christ had been shut up in the small corner of Jury: but God invented a way whereby it might break out, when he divided and clove the tongues of the Apostles, that they might spread that abroad amongst all people, which was delivered to them. Wherein appeareth the manifold goodness of God:¹ because a plague and punishment of mans pride was turned into matter of blessing. For whence came the diversity of tongues, save only that the wicked and ungodly counsels of men might be brought to nought? But God doeth furnish the Apostles with the diversity of tongues now,² that he may bring and call home into a blessed unity, men which wander here and there. These cloven tongues made all men to speak the language of Canaan: as Isaiah foretold. For what language soever they speak, yet do they call upon one Father, which is in heaven, with one mouth and one spirit. I said that that was done for our sake, not only because the fruit came unto us, but because we know that the Gospel came not unto us by chance, but by the appointment of God, who to this end gave the Apostles cloven tongues, least any nation ⟨p. 29⟩should want that doctrine which was committed unto them. Whereby is proved the calling of the Gentiles: and secondly hereby their doctrine doth purchase credit, which we know was not forged by man, seeing that we hear that the Spirit did dwell in their tongues. Now it remaineth that we declare what the fire meaneth. Without all doubt it was a token of the force and efficacy, which should be exercised in the voice of the Apostles. Otherwise, although their sound had gone out into the uttermost parts of the world, they should only have but the air without doing any good at all. Therefore the Lord doth show that their voice shall be fiery, that it may inflame the hearts of men: that the vanity of the world being burnt and consumed, it may purge and renew all things. Otherwise they durst never have taken upon them so hard• a function; unless the Lord had assured them of the power of their preaching.