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…

12 And one Ananias a godly man according to the Law, approved by the testimony of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Coming unto me and standing by me, said to me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And I receiving my sight the same hour saw him. 14 But he said to me, The God of our fathers hath prepared thee that thou mightest know his will, and see the just, and hear a voice from his mouth. 15 Because thou shalt be his witness before all men of those things which thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why stayest thou: Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, in calling upon the name of the Lord.

12 And one Ananias a godly man according to the Law, approued by the testimonie of all the Iewes which dwelt there, 13 Comming vnto me and standing by me, said to me, Brother Saul, receiue thy sight. And I receiuing my sight the same houre saw him. 14 But hee saide to mee, The God of our fathers hath prepared thee that thou mightest knowe his will, and see the iust, and heare a voyce from his mouth. 15 Because thou shalt be his witnesse before all men of those things which thou hast seene and heard. 16 And now why stayest thou: Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, in calling vpon the name of the Lord.

12 One Ananias. Paul proceedeth now unto the fourth point: to wit that he did not only give his name to Christ being astonied with miracles: but that he was also well and throughly instructed in the doctrine of the Gospel. I have already said that Ananias met Paul not by chance, but through the direction of Christ. And whereas he giveth him the title of godliness as concerning the Law, and sayeth that he was well reported off by the whole nation, in these words he preventeth the wrong opinion which they might conceive. As they loathed the Gentiles so they would never have allowed any teacher coming from them. And one that had revolted from the Law should have ben most detestable. Therefore he witnesseth that he worshipped God according to the Law, and that his godliness was known and commended among all the Jews, so that they ought not to suspect him. These words according to the Law are ignorantly by some coupled with the text following, that he was approved according to the Law. For Ananias his religion is rather distinguished by this mark from the superstitions of the Gentiles. Though we must note, that the Law is not mentioned to establish the merits of works, that they may be set against the grace of God: but Ananias his godliness is clearly acquitted of all evil suspicion which might have risen among the Jews. And seeing that he restoreth sight to Paul with one word: it appeareth thereby that he was sent of God, as I have said before.