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…

I am clean from the blood. I do not doubt but that he had respect unto the place of Ezekiel:¹ where God denounceth that his prophet shall be guilty of the blood of the wicked unless he exhort them unto repentance. For upon this condition doth he appoint pastors over his church, that if any thing perish through their negligence an account may be required at their hands: yea, that unless they show the way of salvation without guile and crooks, the destruction of those who go astray may be imputed unto them. Those men must needs be wonderful dull whom such a sharp threatening cannot awake. Wherefore the Epicurish impiety of the popish clergy doth the more bewray it self, where though they crake and brag of their honourable titles, yet they think no more upon giving of an account for so many souls which perish, than if there sate no judge in heaven, neither is their ungodliness any whit less filthy before the whole world, in that being given only to devour sheep, they usurp the name of Pastors. Furthermore the Lord showeth how dear souls be to him, seeing that he doth so sharply punish the Pastors sluggishness, for their destruction: but we see what small account many men make of their own salvation, for which even God himself doth vouchsafe to be careful.

I am cleane from the bloode. I do not doubt but that he had respect vnto the place of Ezechiel:¹ where God denounceth that his prophet shall be guiltie of the blood of the wicked vnlesse he exhort them vnto repentance. For vpon this condition doth he appoint pastors ouer his church, that if any thing perish through their negligence an account may be required at their hands: yea, that vnlesse they shewe the way of saluation without guile and crookes, the destruction of those who go astray may be imputed vnto them. Those men must needs be wonderful dull whom such a sharp threatning cannot awake. Wherfore the Epicurish impiety of the popish cleargie doth the more bewray it selfe, where though they crake and bragge of their honorable titles, yet they thinke no more vpon giuing of an account for so many soules which perish, than if there sate no iudge in heauen, neither is their vngodlines any whit lesse filthy before the whole world, in that being giuen only to deuour sheepe, they vsurpe the name of Pastours. Furthermore the Lord sheweth how deare soules be to him, seing that he doth so sharply punish the Pastours sluggishnes, for their destruction: but we see what small account many men make of their owne saluation, for which euen God himself doth vouchsafe to be carefull.