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…

To dwell upon the face of the earth. Luke doth briefly gather as he useth to do, the sum of Paul his sermon. And it is not to be doubted, but that Paul did first show that men are set here as upon a Theatre, to behold the works of God, and secondly, that he spake of the providence of God, which doth show forth it self in the whole government of the world. For when he saith that god appointeth the times ordained before, and the bounds of mens habitations, his meaning is, that this world is governed by his hand and counsel, and that mens affairs fall not out by chance, as profane men dream. And so we gather out of a few words of Luke, that Paul did handle most weighty matters. For when he saith that the times were ordained before by him: he doth testify that he had determined before men were created, what their condition and estate should be. When we see divers changes in the world, when we see realms come to ruin, lands altered, cities destroyed, nations laid wast, we foolishly imagine, that either fate or fortune beareth the swing in these matters. But God doth testify in this place by the mouth of Paul, that it was appointed before in his counsel, how long he would have the state of every people to continue, and within what bounds he would have them contained. But and if he have appointed them a certain time, and appointed the bounds of countries, undoubtedly he hath also set in ⟨p. 430⟩order the whole course of their life. And we must note that Paul doeth attribute to God not only a bare foreknowledge and cold speculation, as some men do undiscretely: but he placeth the cause of those things which fall out in his counsel and beck. For he saith not that the times were only foreseen, but that they were appointed and set in such order as pleased him best. And when he addeth also that God had appointed from the beginning those things which he had ordained before, his meaning is, that he executeth by the power of his spirit, those things which he hath decreed in his counsel, according to that: Our God is in heaven,¹ he hath done whatsoever he would. Now we see, as in a camp every troupe and band hath his appointed place, so men are placed upon earth, that every people may be content with their bounds, & that among these people every particular person may have his mansion.

To dwel vpon the face of the earth. Luke doth briefly gather as hee vseth to doe, the summe of Paul his sermon. And it is not to be doubted, but that Paul did first shew that men are set here as vpon a Theatre, to beholde the woorkes of God, and secondly, that he spake of the prouidēce of God, which doth shew foorth it selfe in the whole gouernment of the world. For whē he saith that god appointeth the times ordained before, and the bounds of mens habitations, his meaning is, that this worlde is gouerned by his hand and counsel, and that mens affaires fall not out by chaunce, as profane men dreame. And so we gather out of a fewe words of Luke, that Paul did handle most weighty matters. For whē he saith that the times were ordained before by him: he doth testifie that he had determined before men were created, what their condition and estate should be. When we see diuers changes in the world, when we see realmes come to ruine, lands altered, cities destroyed, nations laid wast, we foolishly imagine, that either fate or fortune beareth the swinge in these matters. But God doth testifie in this place by the mouth of Paul, that it was appointed before in his counsel, how long he would haue the state of euery people to continue, and within what boundes he woulde haue them contained. But and if he haue appointed thē a certain time, and appointed the bounds of countries, vndoubtedly he hath also set in