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…

18 Many which believed. Luke bringeth forth one token of that fear whereof he spake. For they did in deed declare that they were thoroughly touched and moved with the fear of God, who of their own accord did confess the faults and offences of their former life, least through their dissimulation they should nourish the wrath of GOD within. We know what a hard matter it is to wring true confession out of those who have offended, for seeing men count nothing more precious then their estimation, they make more account of shame then of truth. Yea so much as in them lieth they seek to cover their shame. Therefore this voluntary confession, was a testimony of repentance & of fear. For no man unless he be throughly touched will make himself subject to the slanders & reproaches of men, & will willingly be judged upon earth, that he may be loosed and acquitted in heaven. When he saith, Many, by this we gather that they had not all one cause, for it may be that these men had corrupt consciences a long time: as many are oftentimes infected with hidden and inward vices. Wherefore Luke doth not prescribe all men a common Law: but he setteth before them an example which those must follow who need like medicine. For why did these men confess their facts, save only that they might give testimony of their repentance, and seek counsel and ease at Pauls hands? It was otherwise with those who came unto the Baptism of John, confessing their sins.¹ For by this means they did confess that they did enter into repentance without dissimulation. But in this place Luke teacheth by one kind, after what sort the faithful were touched with the reverence of God, when God set before them an example of his severity. For which cause the impudency of the Papists is the greater, who colour their tyranny by this fact. For wherein doeth their auricular confession agree with this example? First the faithful confessed how miserably they had bin deceived by Satan before they came to the faith, bringing into the sight of men certain examples. But by the Popes Law it is required that men reckon up all their words and deeds and thoughts. We reed that those men confessed this once. The Popes Law commandeth that it be repeated every year at least. These men made confession of their own accord: the Pope bindeth all men with necessity. Luke sayeth there came many, not all:

18 Many which beleeued. Luke bringeth foorth one token of that feare whereof he spake. For they did in deed declare that they wer thorowly touched and moued with the feare of God, who of their owne accord did confesse the faultes and offences of their former life, least thorow their dissimulation they shoulde nourishe the wrath of GOD within. We know what a hard matter it is to wring true confession out of those who haue offended, for seeing men count nothing more precious then their estimation, they make more account of shame then of truth. Yea so much as in them lyeth they seek to couer their shame. Therefore this voluntarie confessiō, was a testimonie of repentance & of fear. For no man vnlesse hee be throughly touched will make himselfe subiect to the slanders & reproches of men, & will willingly be iudged vpon earth, that he may be loosed and acquitted in heauen. When he saith, Many, by this wee gather that they had not all one cause, for it may bee that these men had corrupt cōsciences a long time: as manie are oftentimes infected with hidden and inward vices. Wherefore Luke doth not prescribe all men a common Law: but he setteth before them an example which thos must follow who need like medicine. For why did these men confesse their facts, saue onely that they might giue testimonie of their repentance, and seeke counsaile and ease at Pauls hands? It was otherwise with those who came vnto the Baptisme of Iohn, confessing their sinnes.