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…

Therefore we must come unto the same fountains at this day, from which Paul fetcheth the proof of the death and resurrection of Christ. And that definition brought great light to the second chapter. It had not been so easy a matter for Paul to prove, and certainly to gather, that the son of Mary is Christ, unless the Jews had been taught before what manner redeemer they were to hope for. And when that doth once appear, it doth only remain that those things be applied to Christ, which the scripture doth attribute to the mediator. But this is the sum of our faith, that we know that the son of Mary is that Christ & mediator, which God promised from the beginning, that done, that we know & understand why he died and rose again: that we do not feign to our selves any earthly king: but that we seek in him righteousness, and all parts of our salvation. Both which things Paul is said to have proved out of the scriptures: we must know that the Jews were not so blockish, nor so impudent, as they be at this day. Paul might have drawn arguments from the sacrifices & from all the worship of the law, whereat the Jews narre at this day like dogs. It is well known how unseemelily they rent and corrupt other places of Scripture. At that day they had some courtesy in them: also they did somewhat reverence the scripture: so that they were not altogether such as would not be taught: at this day the veil is laid over their hearts, so that they can see no more in the clear light then moles.

Therfore we must come vnto the same fountaines at this day, from which Paul fetteth the proofe of the death and resurrectiō of Christ. And that definition brought great light to the second chapter. It had not beene so easie a matter for Paul to prooue, and certainely to gather, that the sonne of Mary is Christ, vnlesse the Iewes had been taught before what manner redeemer they were to hope for. And when that doth once appeare, it doth only remain that those things be applied to Christ, which the scripture doth attribute to the mediator. But this is the summe of our faith, that we know that the sonne of Marie is that Christ & mediator, which God promised from the beginning, that done, that we knowe & vnderstand why he died and rose againe: that we do not feigne to our selues any earthly king: but that we seeke in him righteousnes, and all parts of our saluatiō. Both which things Paul is said to haue proued out of the scriptures: we must know that the Iewes were not so blockish, nor so impudent, as they be at this day. Paul might haue drawen arguments from the sacrifices & from all the worship of the law, whereat the Iewes narre at this day like dogs. It is wel knowne howe vnseemelily they rent and corrupt other places of Scripture. At that daye they had some curtefie in them: also they did somwhat reuerence the scripture: so that they were not altogether such as would not be taught: at this daye the veyle is laid ouer their hearts, so that they can see no more in the cleere light then moales.