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…

And it sate. Because the number is suddenly changed, it is to be doubted whether he speaketh of the fire. He said that there appeared tongues, as it had been of fire. It followeth by and by: And it sate upon them. Notwithstanding I refer it unto the spirit. For the Hebrews use commonly to express the substantive of the verb in the second member, which they did omit in the former. Wherefore we have an example in this place: It sate upon them, and they were all filled with the holy Ghost. And we know that although Luke did write in Greek, yet is he full of those phrases which the Hebrews use. Now whereas he calleth the tongues, the holy Ghost, it is according to the custom of the Scripture. For John calleth the Dove by the same name:¹ because the Lord would testify and declare the presence of his Spirit by some such sign. If it were a vain sign, it should be an absurd naming, to call the sign by the name of the thing signified: but where the thing is annexed, the name of the thing is fitly given to the sign, which offereth the same unto our senses to be perceived. The fullness of the spirit, wherewith he saith every one w•• replenished, doeth not express the equal measure of gifts in eve••e one, but that excellency which should be meet for such a calling.

And it sate. Because the number is sodainly changed, it is to be doubted whether he speaketh of the fire. He saide that there appeared tongues, as it had bene of fire. It followeth by and by: And it sate vpon them. Notwithstanding I refer it vnto the spirite. For the Hebrewes vse commonly to expresse the substantiue of the verbe in the seconde member, which they did omit in the former. Wherefore wee haue an example in this place: It sate vppon them, and they were all filled with the holy Ghost. And we know that although Luke did write in Greeke, yet is hee full of those phrases which the Hebrewes vse. Nowe whereas hee calleth the tongues, the holy Ghost, it is according to the custome of the Scripture. For Iohn calleth the Doue by the same name:¹ because the Lord would testifie and declare the presence of his Spirite by some such signe. If it were a vaine signe, it should be an absurd naming, to cal the signe by the name of the thing signified: but where the thing is annexed, the name of the thing is fitly giuen to the signe, which offereth the same vnto our senses to be perceiued. The fulnes of the spirit, wherewith he saith euery one w replenished, doeth not expresse the equall measure of giftes in euee one, but that excellencie which shoulde be meete for such a callg.