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…

26 And he hath made of one blood. Paul doth now show unto the men of Athens to what end mankind was created, that he may by this means invite and exhort them to consider the end of their life. This is surely ⟨p. 429⟩filthy unthankfulness of men, seeing they all enjoy the common life, not to consider to what end God hath given them life. And yet this beastly blockishness doth possess the more part, so that they do not consider to what end they be placed in the world, neither do they remember the creator of heaven and earth, whose good things they do devour. Therefore after that Paul hath entreated of the nature of God, he putteth in this admonition in due season, that men must be very careful to know God: because they be created for the same end, and borne for that purpose. For he doth briefly assign unto them this cause of life, to seek God. Again for as much as there was not one kind of religion only in the world, but the gentiles were distract into divers sects, he telleth them that this variety came from corruption. For to this end in my judgement, tendeth that, when he sayeth, that all were created of one blood. For consanguinity & the same original ought to have bin a bond of mutual consent among them. But it is religion which doth most of all join men together, or cause them to fly one another's company: whereupon it followeth, that they be revolted from nature, who disagree so much in religion & the worship of god. Because wheresoever they be born, & whatsoever place of the world they inhabit, they have all one maker and father, who must be sought of all men with one consent. And surely neither distance of places, nor bounds of countries, nor diversity of manners, neither any cause of separation among men doeth make God unlike to himself. In sum, he meant to teach that the order of nature was broken, when as religion was pulled in pieces among them: & that that diversity which is among them, is a testimony that godliness is quite overthrown: because they are fallen away from God the father of all, upon whom all kindred dependeth.

26 And he hath made of one blood. Paul doth now shew vnto the men of Athens to what end mankind was created, that he may by this meanes inuite and exhort them to consider the end of their life. This is surely ⟨p. 429⟩filthy vnthankfulnes of men, seeing they all inioy the common life, not to consider to what end God hath giuen them life. And yet this beastly blockishnes doth possesse the more part, so that they doe not consider to what end they be placed in the world, neither doe they remember the creator of heauen and earth, whose good things they doe deuour. Therfore after that Paul hath intreated of the nature of God, he putteth in this admonition in due season, that men must be very carefull to knowe God: because they be created for the same end, and borne for that purpose. For he doth briefly assigne vnto them this cause of life, to seeke God. Againe for as much as there was not one kinde of religion only in the world, but the gentiles were distract into diuers sectes, he telleth them that this varietie came from corruption. For to this ende in my iudgement, tendeth that, when hee saieth, that all were created of one blood. For consanguinitie & the same originall ought to haue bin a bōd of mutual consent among thē. But it is religion which doth most of all ioyne men together, or cause them to fly one anothers companie: whervppon it followeth, that they be reuolted from nature, who disagree so much in religiō & the worship of god. Bicause whersoeuer they be born, & whatsoeuer place of the world they inhabite, they haue al one maker and father, who must be sought of al men with one consent. And surely neither distaunce of places, nor boundes of countries, nor diuersitie of manners, neither any cause of separation among men doeth make God vnlike to himselfe. In summe, he meant to teach that the order of nature was broken, when as religion was pulled in peeces among them: & that that diuersitie which is among them, is a testimonie that godlinesse is quite ouerthrowen: because they are fallen away from God the father of al, vpon whom al kinred dependeth.