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…

21 Who so ever shall call upon. An excellent place. For as God doeth prick us forward like sluggish Asses, with threatenings & terrors, to seek salvation: so, after that he hath brought darkness upon the face of heaven and earth, yet doth he show a means whereby salvation may shine before our eyes: to wit, if we shall call upon him. For we must diligently note this circumstance. If God should promise salvation simply, it were a great matter: but it is a far greater, when as he promiseth the same amidst manifold dungeons of death. Whiles that (saith he) all things shall be out of order, and the fear of destruction shall possess all things, only call upon me and ye shall be saved. Therefore howsoever man be swallowed up in the golf of miseries, yet is there set before him a way to escape. We must also note the universal word, who so ever. For God admitteth all men unto himself without exception, and by this means doth he invite them to salvation,¹ as Paul gathereth in the tenth chapt. to the Romans, and as the prophet had set it down before: Thou Lord, which hearest the prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Therefore for as much as no man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men. Neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief. I speak of all, unto whom God doth make manifest himself by the Gospel. But like as those which call upon the name of the Lord are sure of salvation, so we must think that without the same we are thrice miserable and undone. And when as our salvation is placed in calling upon God, there is nothing in the mean season taken from faith, for as much as this invocation is grounded in faith alone. There is also another circumstance no less worthy the noting: in that the Prophet doth signify, that the calling upon God doeth properly appertain and agree unto the last days. For although he would be called upon in all ages, notwithstanding since that he showed himself to be a Father, in Christ, ⟨p. 40⟩we have the more easy access unto him. Which thing ought both the more to embolden us, and to take from us all sluggishness. As he himself doth also reason, that by this privilege our forwardness to pray, is doubled to us: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive:

21 Who so euer shall call vpon. An excellent place. For as God doeth prick vs forward like sluggish Asses, with threatnings & terrors, to seeke saluation: so, after that he hath brought darknes vpon the face of heauen and earth, yet doth he shew a meanes whereby saluation may shine before our eyes: to wit, if we shall call vpon him. For we must diligentlie note this circumstance. If God should promise saluation simplie, it were a great matter: but it is a far greater, when as he promiseth the same amidst manifold dungeons of death. Whiles that (saith he) all things shal be out of order, and the feare of destruction shal possesse al things, onely call vpon me and yee shall be saued. Therefore howsoeuer man be swallowed vp in the goulfe of miseries, yet is there set before him a way to escape. We must also note the vniuersall worde, who so euer. For God admitteth all men vnto himselfe without exception, and by this meanes doth he inuite them to saluation,