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…

32 I commend you to God. He useth a prayer, which in an oration serving to move the hearers greatly, ought not to be counted absurd. For he did not pass for dividing his Sermon into parts as the Rhetoricians use to do: seeing no words were sufficient to express the vehemency of the affections wherewith he was inflamed. He had entreated already of great matters and weighty, which did far exceed mans ability.

32 I commend you to God. He vseth a prayer, which in an oration seruing to moue the hearers greatly, ought not to be counted absurd. For hee did not passe for diuiding his Sermon into partes as the Rhetoricians vse to doe: seeing no wordes were sufficient to expresse the vehemencie of the affections wherewith he was inflamed. He had intreated alreadie of great matters and weightie, which did farre exceed mans abilitie.

Therefore he turneth himself unto prayer, and by little & little draweth toward an end of his speech: though it be rather an expressing of a desire, then a direct prayer. As if he should have said, that they be unable to bear so great a burden: but he doth wish to them new help from heaven, whereto they may trust and overcome all temptations. And it is not to be doubted, though he speak unto the pastors alone, but that he doth also comprehend the whole church. First he commendeth them to God. Secondly to the word of his grace. Notwithstanding it is all one commendation: but Paul meant to express the means whereby the Lord doth defend the salvation of his, which (as Peter saith) is kept by faith:¹ and the means of this keeping dependeth upon the word ⟨p. 490⟩least it come in hazard amidst so many dangers. And it is very expedient for us to know how God will keep us. For because his majesty is hid from us, until he come unto us by his word, we look too and fro being in doubt.

Therfore he turneth himself vnto prayer, and by litle & litle draweth toward an ende of his speeche: though it be rather an expressing of a desire, then a direct prayer. As if he should haue said, that they be vnable to beare so great a burthen: but he doth wish to them new helpe from heauen, whereto they may trust and ouercome all temptations. And it is not to be doubted, though he speake vnto the pastours alone, but that he doth also comprehend the whol church. First he cōmendeth thē to God. Secondly to the word of his grace. Notwithstanding it is all one commendation: but Paul meant to expresse the meanes whereby the Lorde doth defende the saluation of his, which (as Peter saith) is kepte by faith: