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…

So that beholding our selves apart from Christ, we see the grave prepared for us, which threateneth to us corruption. Wherefore if David be separated from Christ, that shall not belong to him which is here said, that he shall be preserved from the grave. Therefore when he boasteth that he shall be free from the grave, as touching corruption, without all doubt he placeth himself in the body of Christ, wherein death was overcome, & the kingdom thereof abolished. But & if David do promise himself exempting from the grave in another respect, save only so far forth as he is a member of Christ, hereby it appeareth that this freedom must begin at Christ as at the head. What man soever shall be of sound judgement, shall easily know that this is a good argument, God did put all mankind under corruption: Therefore David, inasmuch as he was of the number of men, could not be free from the same. Neither is it to be doubted, but that the Jews, before whom this sermon was made, forasmuch as without question that maxim was of force amongst them, that they were to hope for the restoring of things at the hands of Christ alone, did the more readily stay themselves upon the words of Peter: because they saw that that could no otherwise be which the words do import, unless they should apply it to the Messiah. For they were not come to that point of impudency, at least those of whom mention is made here, that they durst cavil in matters which were evident. For god had then offered unto his disciples those which were godly hearers, and apt to be taught. They sought the Messiah in the old Testament. They knew that David was a figure of him. There was amongest them some religion, and reverence of the scriptures then. But now the impudency of all the whole nation almost is desperate. Howsoever they be urged, they wrench themselves out one way or other. Where there is no way to escape, yet they break through. Although they be overcome, yet will they not yield. Neither is it to be doubted, but that this their shameless frowardness, is a punishment for their ungodliness. But let us return unto Peter his sermon. Seeing that David doth not only affirm that ⟨p. 47⟩God also shall be his deliverer, but doth express a singular way & means:

So that beholdding our selues apart from Christ, we see the graue prepared for vs, which threatneth to vs corruption. Wherfore if Dauid be separated from Christ, that shal not belong to him which is here said, that he shalbe preserued from the graue. Therfore when he boasteth that he shalbe free frō the graue, as touching corruption, without all doubt he placeth himself in the body of Christ, wherin death was ouercome, & the kingdom therof abolished. But & if Dauid do promise himself exempting from the graue in another respect, saue only so far foorth as he is a member of Christ, hereby it appeareth that this freedome must begin at Christe as at the head. What man soeuer shalbe of sound iudgement, shall easily knowe that this is a good argument, God did put al mankind vnder corruption: Therefore Dauid, inasmuch as he was of the number of men, could not be free from the same. Neither is it to be doubted, but that the Iewes, before whō this sermon was made, forasmuch as without questiō that maxim was of force amongst thē, that they were to hope for the restoring of thinges at the hands of Christe alone, did the more readily stay themselues vppon the words of Peter: because they saw that that could no otherwise be which the words do import, vnlesse they should apply it to the Messias. For they were not come to that point of impudencie, at least those of whom mention is made heere, that they durst cauil in matters which were euident. For god had then offered vnto his disciples those which were godly hearers, and apt to bee taught. They sought the Messias in the olde Testament. They knew that Dauid was a figure of him. There was amongest them some religion, and reuerence of the scriptures then. But nowe the impudencie of all the whole nation almost is desperate. Howesoeuer they be vrged, they wrench themselues out one way or other. Where ther is no way to escape, yet they break through. Althogh they be ouercome, yet wil they not yeld. Neither is it to be douted, but that this their shameles frowardnes, is a punishment for their vngodlines. But let vs return vnto Peter his sermon. Seing that Dauid doth not only affirm that