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…

Because I have much people. The second reason why he should take a good heart, is, because the Lord will raise up a great and populous church there, though it be to be doubted whether this member depend upon that which goeth next before: for the text will run fitly thus, because the Lord determined by the hand of Paul to gather together a great church, he would not suffer the enemies to interrupt the course of his labours, as if he should have said, I will help thee, that thou mayst not fail my people whose minister I have appointed thee to be. I do willingly embrace this exposition, that divers reasons are not inferred which are to be read apart: but that they be so distinguished that they agree together. Furthermore the Lord calleth those his people, who though they might then for good causes be counted strangers: yet because they were written in the book of life, and were forthwith to be admitted into his family, they have this title given them not unproperly. For we know that many sheep wan der without the flock for a time, as the sheep have many wolves among them. Therefore whom the Lord determined shortly after to gather to himself, those doth he take for his people in respect of their future faith. But let us remember that those are engrafted into the body of Christ, who appertain unto the same by the eternal adoption of God:¹ as it is written, Thine they were, and thou gavest them me.

Because I haue much people. The second reason why he shuld take a good heart, is, because the Lord wil raise vp a great and populous church ther, though it be to be douted whether this mēber depend vpon that which goeth next before: for the text will run fitly thus, because the Lord determined by the hād of Paul to gather together a great church, he wold not suffer the enemies to interrupt the course of his labors, as if he shuld haue said, I will helpe thee, that thou mayst not faile my people whose minister I haue appointed thee to bee. I doe willingly embrace this exposition, that diuers reasons are not inferred which are to be read apart: but that they be so distinguished that they agree together. Furthermore the Lord calleth those his people, who though they might then for good causes be counted strangers: yet because they were written in the book of life, and were foorthwith to be admitted into his familie, they haue this title giuen them not vnproperly. For we know that many sheep wā der without the flock for a time, as the sheep haue many wolues among them. Therefore whom the Lord determined shortly after to gather to himself, those doth he take for his people in respect of their future faith. But let vs remember that those are ingraffed into the body of Christe, who appertaine vnto the same by the eternall adoption of God: