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…

The same is to be said at this day of the Jews, whose religion seeing it disagreeth with the Law and the Prophets, their God must also be degenerate and feigned. For he who would in times past be called the God of Abraham and of the fathers, appeared at length in the person of his son, that he may now be called by his own name or title the Father of Christ. Therefore he which rejecteth the son, hath not the father, who cannot be separated from him. And Ananias sayeth that it cometh to pass through the free Election of God, that the truth of the Gospel doeth now appear to Paul: whereupon it followeth that he did not attain unto this by his own industry, which the experience of the thing did also declare. For nothing was more stubborn than Paul, until Christ did tame him. And if we desire to know the cause and beginning, Ananias calleth us back unto the counsel of God, whereby he was appointed and ordained, and assuredly it is a more precious thing to know the will of God, then that men can attain unto it by their own industry. That which Ananias affirmeth of Paul ought to be translated unto all, that the treasure of faith is not common to all: but it is offered peculiarly to the Elect. Furthermore it appeareth more plainly by the next member what this will of God is: for God spake at sundry times and many ways by his Prophets; but last of all he revealed and made known his will and himself wholly in his son.

The same is to bee said at this day of the Iewes, whose religion seing it disagreeth with the Lawe and the Prophets, their God must also bee degenerate and feigned. For hee who would in times past be called the God of Abraham and of the fathers, appeared at length in the person of his sonne, that hee may nowe be called by his owne name or title the Father of Christ. Therefore he which reiecteth the sonne, hath not the father, who cannot bee seperated from him. And Ananias saieth that it commeth to passe through the free Election of God, that the truth of the Gospell doeth now appeare to Paule: whereuppon it followeth that he did not attaine vnto this by his owne industrie, which the experience of the thing did also declare. For nothing was more stubberne than Paule, vntill Christ did tame him. And if wee desire to knowe the cause and beginning, Ananias calleth vs backe vnto the counsell of God, whereby hee was appointed and ordained, and assuredlie it is a more precious thing to knowe the will of God, then that men can attaine vnto it by their owne industrie. That which Ananias affirmeth of Paul ought to bee translated vnto all, that the treasure of faith is not common to all: but it is offered peculiarly to the Elect. Furthermore it appeareth more plainly by the next member what this will of God is: for God spake at sundrie times and many wayes by his Prophetes; but last of all hee reuealed and made knowne his will and himselfe whollie in his sonne.