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…

25 The resurrection which was both declared and witnessed by certain ⟨p. 45⟩and evident testimonies, and which might also have been gathered out of the continual doctrine of the prophets, was to be proved to the Jews as some new and strange thing. And no marvel. For we see that although Christ had oftentimes beat the same into his Disciples heads, yet did they profit but a little. And yet did they retain certain principles of true doctrine, which might have made a way for them unto the knowledge of Christ: as we shall see by & by. Therefore because the gift of the Spirit was a fruit of the resurrection of Christ, he proveth by the testimony of David, that Christ must needs have risen again, that the Jews may thereby know that he was the author of the gift. For he taketh it as a thing which all men grant, that he was raised up from death, that he may live not for himself, but for his. Now we see Peter his drift. That that ought to seem no strange thing, which was foretold so long before. And that Jesus is also Christ, because David did prophesy of him, as of the head of the church. First of all we must see whether this place ought altogether to be understood of Christ, as Peter affirmeth: that done, if there be any thing in the words worth the noting, we will in order discuss it. Peter denieth that that agreeth with David, which is said in this place: Thou shalt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption:¹ because David his carcass was corrupt in the grave. It seemeth at the first blush to be but a light argument. For a man might easily object, That the word is not to be urged, forasmuch as David meant nothing else, save only to exempt himself from destruction. Therefore howsoever corruption did touch him, yet doth that no whit hinder, but that he may easily say that he was safe from the danger thereof: because he knew that the Lord would deliver him. Yea it seemeth to be a repetition of the former sentence, according to the common custom of the Hebrew tongue. Which if it be so, the sense shall be plain, that God will not suffer him to be oppressed with death, or that death should consume him. And this interpretation is confirmed by that that where we read, hell, it is in Hebrew Seol: where we read corruption, there it is Shachat. Both these words do signify the grave.

25 The resurrection which was both declared and witnessed by certaine