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…

31 Because he hath appointed a day. He maketh mention of the last judgement that he may awake them out of their dream. For we know how hard a matter it is for men to deny themselves. Therefore they must be violently enforced unto repentance, which cannot be done better then when they be cited to appear before gods judgement seat, and that fearful judgement is set before them, which they may neither despise nor escape. Therefore let us remember that the doctrine of repentance doth than take place, when men who would naturally desire to flatter themselves, are awaked with fear of Gods judgement, & that none are fit teachers of the gospel but those who are the criers or apparitors of the highest judge, who bring those who are to come before the judge, to plead their cause, & denounce the judgment hanging over their heads, even as if it were in their own hand. Neither is this added in vain in righteousness, or righteously. For though all men in the word confess that God is a just judge: yet we see how they for the most part, pamper and flatter themselves: for they will not suffer God to demand an account farther than their knowledge and understanding doth reach. Therefore Paul his meaning is that men do profit themselves nothing by vain flattery: because they shall not prejudice gods justice by this means, which showeth that all that is an abomination before God which seemeth goodly in the sight of men: because he will not follow the decrees of men, but that form which himself hath appointed.

31 Because he hath appointed a day. Hee maketh mention of the last iudgement that he may awake them out of their dreame. For we knowe how hard a matter it is for men to denie themselues. Therefore they must be violently enforced vnto repentance, which cannot be done better then when they be cited to appeare before gods iudgement seat, and that feareful iudgement is set before them, which they may neither despice nor escape. Therefore let vs remember that the doctrine of repentance doth than take place, when mē who would naturally desire to flatter themselues, are awaked with feare of Gods iudgement, & that none are fit teachers of the gospell but those who are the criers or apparitors of the highest iudge, who bring those who are to come before the iudge, to plead their cause, & denoūce the iudgmēt hanging ouer their heads, euen as if it were in their owne hand. Neither is this added in vaine in righteousnes, or righteouslie. For though all men in the word confesse that God is a iust iudge: yet we see howe they for the most part, pamper and flatter themselues: for they will not suffer God to demaund an account farther than their knowledge and vnderstanding doth reach. Therefore Paul his meaning is that men do profit themselues nothing by vain flatterie: because they shal not preiudice gods iustice by this meanes, which sheweth that all that is an abhomination before God which seemeth goodly in the sight of men: because hee will not followe the decrees of men, but that forme which himselfe hath appointed.