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…

16 And now why tarriest thou? It is not to be doubted but that Ananias did faithfully instruct Paul in the principles of godliness: for he would not have baptized him if he had been void of true faith. But Luke passeth over many things, and doth briefly gather the sum. Therefore seeing Paul doth understand that the promised redemption is now given in Christ: Ananias sayeth for good causes that nothing ought to stay him from being Baptized. But when he sayeth, why tarriest thou? he doeth not chide Paul, neither doeth he accuse him of slackness: but he doeth rather amplify the grace of God by adding Baptism. The like sentence had we in the tenth Chapter,¹ Can any man let those from being Baptized with water, who have the holy Ghost given them even as we? But when he sayeth, Wash away thy sins: by this speech he expresseth the force and fruit of Baptism: as if he had said, Wash away thy sins by Baptism. But because it may seem that by this means more is attributed to the outward and corruptible element than is meet. The question is whether Baptism be the cause of our purging. Surely for as much as the blood of Christ is the only means whereby our sins are washed away: and as it was once shed to this end, so the holy Ghost by the sprinkling thereof through faith doeth make us clean continually, this honour cannot be translated unto the sign of water, without doing open injury to Christ and the holy Ghost: and experience doeth teach how earnestly men be bent unto this superstition. Therefore many godly men, least they put confidence in the outward sign, do overmuch extenuate the force of Baptism. But they must keep a measure, that the Sacraments may be kept within their bounds, least they darken the glory of Christ: and yet they may not want their force and use. Wherefore we must hold this, first that it is God alone who washeth us from our sins by the blood of his son: and to the end this washing may be effectual in us, he worketh by the hidden power of his Spirit. Therefore when the question is concerning remission of sins, we must seek no other author thereof, but the heavenly Father: ⟨p. 516⟩we must imagine no other material cause, but the blood of Christ, and when we be come to the formal cause, the holy ghost is the chief:

16 And now why tarriest thou? It is not to be doubted but that Ananias did faithfully instruct Paul in the principles of godlinesse: for he would not haue baptized him if hee had beene voide of true faith. But Luke passeth ouer many things, and doth briefely gather the summe. Therefore seing Paul doth vnderstand that the promised redemption is nowe giuen in Christ: Ananias saieth for good causes that nothing ought to stay him from being Baptized. But when hee saieth, why tarriest thou? hee doeth not chide Paule, neither doeth hee accuse him of slackenesse: but hee doeth rather amplifie the grace of God by adding Baptisme. The like sentence had wee in the tenth Chapter,