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…

20 I have kept back nothing. He commendeth his faithfulness and diligence in teaching in three respects, that he instructed his scholars throughly and perfectly, so that he omitted nothing which might make for their salvation: that being not content with general preaching, he did also endeavour to do every man good. Thirdly, he reciteth a brief sum of all his whole doctrine, that he exhorted them unto faith in Christ and repentance. Now for as much as he depaynteth out unto us a pattern of a faithful & good Teacher: whosoever they be who are desirous to prove their industry to the Lord, they must set before their eyes the edifying of the Church: as he commandeth Timotheus in another place, to consider what things be profitable,¹ that he may be instant in delivering those things. And surely the Scripture (according to whose rule all manner of teaching must be examined, yea which is the only method of teaching aright) doth not contain profound speculations, to delight men when they have nothing else to do; but as the same Paul doth testify, it is all profitable to make the man of God perfect. But Paul prescribeth such a desire to edify, that the Pastor must omit nothing, so much as in him lieth, which is profitable to be known. For they be bad masters who do so keep their scholars in the first principles,² that they do never come unto the knowledge of the trueth. And surely the Lord doth not teach us in his word only to halves (as they say) but he delivereth perfect wisdom and such as is in all points absolute: whereby it appeareth how impudently those men boast them selves to be ministers of the word, who do not only cloak and foster the ignorance of the people with their silence, but do also wink at gross errors and wicked superstitions: as at this day in Papistry, many send out some sparkles of sound doctrine, but they dare not drive away the darkness of ignorance, and where as the wicked fear of the flesh doth hinder them, they pretend that the people is not capable of sound doctrine.

20 I haue kepte backe nothing. He commendeth his faithfulnesse and diligence in teaching in three respectes, that hee instructed his schollers throughly and perfectly, so that he omitted nothing whiche might make for their saluation: that beyng not content with generall preaching, he did also indeuour to doe euery man good. Thirdly, he reciteth a briefe summe of all his whole doctrine, that hee exhorted them vnto faith in Christ and repentaunce. Now for as much as he depaynteth out vnto vs a patterne of a faithfull & good Teacher: whosoeuer they be who are desirous to prooue their industrie to the Lorde, they must set before their eyes the edifying of the Church: as he commaundeth Timotheus in another place, to consider what thinges be profitable,