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…

But because it is ordained to be unto us as a race, we must alwa• • sten unto the mark, & overcome all hinderances, least any thing binder or stay us in our course. For it is a filthy thing for us to be so holden with a blind desire to live, that we loose the causes of life for life it self: & this do the words of Paul express. For he doeth not simply set light by his life: but he doth forget the respect thereof, that he may finish his course: that he may fulfil the ministry which he hath received of Christ: as if he should say that he is not desirous to live, save only that he may satisfy the calling of God: and that therefore it shall be no grief to him to loose his life, so that he may come by death unto the goal of the function prescribed to him by God. And we must note that which he saith with joy, for his meaning is that this is taken from the faithful by no sorrow or grief, but that they both live and die to the Lord. For the joy of a good conscience is more deeply & surely laid up, than that it can be taken away by any external trouble, or any sorrow of the flesh: it triumpheth more joyfully, than that it can be oppressed. Also we must note the definition of his course: to wit, that it is the ministry received of the Lord. Paul doth in deed speak of himself: yet by his own example he teacheth that all those go astray who have not God to be the governor of their course. Whereupon it followeth that his calling is unto every one of us a rule of good life. Neither can we be otherwise persuaded that the Lord alloweth that which we do, unless our life be framed & ordered according to his will, which certainty is required especially in the ministers of the word, that they take nothing in hand unless they have Christ for their author. Neither is it to be doubted but that Paul in giving his Apostleship this mark (as he useth to do very often) doth confirm the credit thereof. He calleth it the Gospel of the grace of God, of the effect or end, notwithstanding this is a title of rare commendation, that by the gospel salvation & the grace of god are brought unto us. For it is very expedient for us to know that god is found there to be merciful & favourable.

But because it is ordained to be vnto vs as a race, we must alwa• • sten vnto the marke, & ouercome all hinderances, least any thing binder or stay vs in our course. For it is a filthy thing for vs to be so holden with a blind desire to liue, that we loose the causes of life for life it self: & this do the words of Paul expresse. For he doeth not simplie set light by his life: but he doth forget the respect thereof, that he may finish his course: that he may fulfil the ministery which he hath receiued of Christ: as if he should say that he is not desirous to liue, saue onely that he may satisfie the calling of God: and that therefore it shall bee no griefe to him to loose his life, so that hee may come by death vnto the goale of the function prescribed to him by God. And we must note that which he saith with ioy, for his meaning is that this is taken from the faithful by no sorrow or griefe, but that they both liue and die to the Lord. For the ioy of a good cōscience is more deeply & surely laid vp, thā that it can be takē away by any externall troble, or any sorrow of the flesh: it triumpheth more ioyfully, than that it can be oppressed. Also we must note the definition of his course: to wit, that it is the ministery receiued of the Lord. Paul doth in deed speak of himself: yet by his own example he teacheth that all those goe astray who haue not God to be the gouernour of their course. Whereupon it followeth that his calling is vnto euery one of vs a rule of good life. Neither can we be otherwise perswaded that the Lorde alloweth that which we doe, vnlesse our life be framed & ordered according to his wil, which certainty is required especially in the ministers of the worde, that they take nothing in hand vnlesse they haue Christ for their authour. Neither is it to be doubted but that Paul in giuing his Apostleship this mark (as he vseth to do very often) doth confirm the credit thereof. He calleth it the Gospel of the grace of God, of the effect or end, notwithstanding this is a title of rare commendation, that by the gospel saluation & the grace of god are brought vnto vs. For it is very expedient for vs to know that god is foūd ther to be merciful & fauorable.