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…

By this means the Lord meant to beautify the first beginnings of the Gospel, when he raised up men and women, to foretell things to come. Prophesies had now almost ceased many years among the Jews to the end they might be more attentive & desirous to hear the new voice of the Gospel. Therefore seeing that prophesying which was in a manner quite ceased, doth now after long time return again, it was a token of a more perfect state. Notwithstanding it seemeth that the same was the reason why it ceased shortly after: for God did support the old people with divers foretellings, until Christ should make an end of all prophesies. Therefore it was meet that the new kingdom of Christ should be thus furnished and beautified with this furniture that all men might know that that promised visitation of the Lord was present: and it was also expedient that it should last but for a short time least the faithful should always wait for some farther thing, or least that curious wits might have occasion given ⟨p. 496⟩to seek or invent some new thing ever now and then. For we know that when that ability and skill was taken away, there were notwithstanding many brainsick fellows, who did boast that they were prophets, & also it may be that the frowardness of men did deprive the Church of this gift. But that one cause ought to be sufficient, in that God by taking away prophecies, did testify that the end and perfection was present in Christ: & it is uncertain how these maids did execute the office of prophesying: saving that the spirit of God did so guide and govern them, that he did not overthrow the order which he himself set down. And for as much as he doth not suffer women to bear any public office in the church, it is to be thought that they did prophesy at home, or in some private place without the common assembly.

By this meanes the Lorde meant to bewtifie the first beginnings of the Gospel, when hee raised vp men and women, to foretell thinges to com. Prophesies had now almost ceased many yeres among the Iewes to the end they might bee more attentiue & desirous to heare the newe voice of the Gospell. Therefore seeing that prophesiyng which was in a manner quite ceased, doth nowe after long time returne againe, it was a token of a more perfect state. Notwithstanding it seemeth that the same was the reason why it ceased shortly after: for God did support the old people with diuers foretellings, vntill Christ shoulde make an ende of all prophesies. Therefore it was meete that the newe kingdome of Christe shoulde bee thus furnished and beautified with this furniture that all men myght knowe that that promised visitation of the Lorde was present: and it was also expedient that it shoulde last but for a short time least the faithfull shoulde alwayes waite for some farther thinge, or leaste that curious wittes myght haue occasion giuen