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…

Repentance toward God. We must first note the distinction of faith and Repentance, which some do falsely and unskilfully confound, saying that repentance is a part of faith. I grant in deed that they cannot be separate: because God doth illuminate no man with the Spirit of faith, whom he doth not also regenerate unto newness of life. Yet they must needs be distinguished as Paul doth in this place. For Repentance is a turning unto God, when we frame our selves and all our life to obey him: but faith is a receiving of the grace offered us in Christ. For all religion tendeth to this end that embracing holiness and righteousness, we serve the Lord purely, also that we seek no part of our salvation any where else save only at his hands: and that we seek salvation in Christ alone. Therefore the doctrine of repentance containeth a rule of good life, it requireth the denial of our selves, the mortifying of our flesh, and meditating upon the heavenly life. But because we be all naturally corrupt, strangers from righteousness, and turned away from God himself: again, because we fly from God, because we know that he is displeased with us: the means as well to obtain free reconciliation, as newness of life must be set before us. Therefore unless faith be added, it is in vain to speak of repentance: yea those teachers of repentance, who neglecting faith, stand only upon the framing of life, & precepts of good works, differ nothing or very little from profane Philosophers. They teach how men must live, but forasmuch as they leave men in their nature, there can no bettering be hoped for thence, until they invite those who are lost unto hope of salvation, until they quicken the dead, promising forgiveness of sins, until they show that God doth by his free adoption take those for his children, who were before bondslaves of Satan, until they teach that the spirit of regeneration must be begged at the hands of the heavenly father, that we must draw godliness, righteousness, & goodness from him who is the fountain of all good things. And hereupon followeth calling upon God, which is the chiefest thing in the worship of God. We see now how that repentance and faith are so linked together, that they cannot be separate.

Repentance toward God. We must first note the distinction of faith and Repentance, which some doe falsely and vnskilfully confounde, saying that repentance is a part of faith. I grant in deede that they cannot bee seperate: because God doth illuminate no man with the Spirit of faith, whom he doth not also regenerate vnto newnesse of life. Yet they must needs be distinguished as Paul doth in this place. For Repentance is a turning vnto God, when wee frame our selues and all our life to obey him: but faith is a receiuing of the grace offered vs in Christ. For all religion tendeth to this end that imbracing holinesse and righteousnes, we serue the Lord purely, also that wee seeke no part of our saluation any where els saue only at his hands: and that we seek saluation in Christ aloue. Therefore the doctrine of repentance containeth a rule of good life, it requireth the deniall of our selues, the mortifying of our flesh, and meditating vpon the heauenly life. But because we be all naturally corrupt, strangers from righteousnesse, and turned away from God himself: againe, because we flie from God, because we know that he is displeased with vs: the meanes as well to obtaine free reconciliation, as newnesse of life must be set before vs. Therefore vnlesse fath be added, it is in vain to speake of repentance: yea those teachers of repentance, who neglecting faith, stand only vpon the framing of life, & precepts of good works, differ nothing or very little from profane Philosophers. They teach how men must liue, but forasmuch as they leaue men in their nature, there can no bettering be hoped for thence, vntill they inuite those who are lost vnto hope of saluation, vntill they quicken the dead, promising forgiuenes of sinnes, vntill they shewe that God doth by his free adoption take those for his children, who were before bonslaues of Satan, vntill they teach that the spirit of regeneration must be begged at the hāds of the heauenly father, that we must draw godlines, righteousnes, & goodnes from him who is the fountaine of all good things. And herevppon followeth calling vpon God, which is the chiefest thing in the woorship of God. We see now how that repentance and faith are so linked together, that they cannot be separate.