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…

28 Therefore take heed to your selves and to all the flock, wherein t• […] ghost hath made you overseers to govern the church of God, which he hath purchased with his blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men, speaking perverse things, that they may draw disciples after them. 31 For which cause watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years, I ceased not night and day to warn every one of you with tears. 32 And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, who is able to build farther and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

28 Therefore take heede to your selues and to all the flocke, wherein t• 〈…〉 ghost hath made you ouerseers to gouern the church of God, which he hath purchased with his blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure grieuous wolues wil enter in among you, not sparing the flocke. 30 And of your owne selues shall arise men, speaking peruerse things, that they may draw disciples after them. 31 For which cause watch ye, remembring that by the space of three yeres, I ceassed not night and day to warne euery one of you with teares. 32 And now brethren I commende you to God and to the worde of his grace, who is able to build farther and to giue you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

28 Take heed therefore. He doth now apply his speech unto them, & by many reasons showeth that they must watch diligently, and that he is not so careful, but because necessity doth so require. The first reason is, because they be bound to the flock over which they be set. The second, because they were called unto this function not by mortal man, but by the holy Ghost. The third, because it is no small honour to govern the Church of God. The fourth, because the Lord did declare by an evident testimony, what account he doth make of the church, seeing that he hath redeemed it with his blood. As touching the first, he doth not only command them to take heed to the flock, but first to themselves. For that man will never be careful for the salvation of other men, who will neglect his own. And in vain shall that man prick forward other to live godlily, who will himself show no desire of godliness. Yea that man will not take pains with his flock, who forgetteth himself, seeing he is a part of the flock. Therefore to the end, they may be careful for the flock to them committed, Paul commandeth & warneth, that every one of them keep himself in the fear of God. For by this means it should come to pass that every one should be as faithful towards his flock as he ought. For we said that Paul reasoneth from their calling, that they be bound to take pains in the church of God, whereof they have the government. As if he should say, that they may not do whatsoever they like best, neither are they free, after they be made pastors: but they be bound publicly to all the flock.