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…

23 But that the holy ghost. I do not understand this of secret oracles, but of those foretellings, which he heard every where of the Prophets. And this speech hath greater dignity to set forth the prophecies, then if the men themselves, which spake, were called & cited to be witnesses. For by this means the word of God hath his authority, when we confess that the spirit of God is the author thereof: though the ministers be men. Now for as much as the same spirit which foretelleth Paul of bonds & tribulations, doth also hold him fast bound that he cannot refuse to submit himself unto him, by this we learn that what dangers so ever hang over our heads, we are not thereby acquitted, but that we must obey the commandments of god, & follow his calling. In vain therefore do those men flatter them selves, who will do good so long as they be free from molestation, & may make discommodities, damages and dangers of death sufficient excuses. 24 I care not. Al the godly must be so framed in their minds, & chiefly the ministers of the word, that setting all things apart, they make hast to obey god. The life is indeed a more excellent gift, than that it ought to be neglected: to wit, seeing we be therein created after the image of god, to the end we may think upon that blessed immortality which is laid up for us in heaven: in which the lord doth now by divers testimonies & tokens show himself to be our father.

23 But that the holy ghost. I do not vnderstand this of secret oracles, but of those foretellings, which he heard euery where of the Prophets. And this speech hath greater dignity to set forth the prophecies, then if the men thēselues, which spake, were called & cited to be witnesses. For by this meanes the word of God hath his authoritie, whē we confesse that the spirit of God is the author therof: though the ministers be mē. Now for as much as the same spirit which foretelleth Paul of bonds & tribulations, doth also hold him fast boūd that he cānot refuse to submit himself vnto him, by this we learn that what dangers so euer hang ouer our heads, we are not therby acquitted, but that we must obey the cōmandemēts of god, & folow his calling. In vain therfore do those mē flatter thē selues, who wil do good so long as they be free from molestation, & may make discōmodities, damages and dangers of death sufficient excuses. 24 I care not. Al the godly must be so framed in their minds, & chiefly the ministers of the word, that settīg al things apart, they make hast to obey god. The life is indeed a more excellēt gift, thē that it ought to be neglected: to wit, seing we be therin created after the image of god, to the end we may think vpō yt blessed immortality which is laid vp for vs in heauē: in which the lord doth now by diuers testimonies & tokēs shew himself to be our father.