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…

6 For the hope of the promise. He doth now descend into the cause, to wit, that he laboureth for the principal point of faith. And though he seem to have spoken generally of the resurrection, yet we may gather out of the text, that he beginneth with a farther point: and that he did comprehend those circumstances, which did properly appertain unto the faith of the gospel. He complaineth that the Jews did accuse him, because he maintained the hope of the promise made to the fathers. Therefore this was the beginning and also the issue of the matter, that the covenant which God had made with the fathers, is referred unto eternal salvation. Wherefore this was the sum of the disputation, that the Jewish religion was nothing worth, unless they took heed to the heavens, and did also lift up their eyes unto Christ the author of the new life. They did boast that they were chosen from among all people of the world. But their adoption did profit them nothing, unless they did trust to the promised Mediator, and look unto the inheritance of the kingdom of god. Therefore we must conceive much more then Luke doth plainly express. And surely his narration tendeth to no other end, save only that we may know of what things Paul entreated. ⟨p. 561⟩But what this was, and in what words he uttered it, we cannot tell, Nevertheless it behoveth us to gather out of a brief sum those things which appertain unto this disputation: which was freely handled before Agrippa, when Paul had free liberty granted to him to plead his own cause.

6 For the hope of the promise. Hee doth now discend into the cause, to wit, that he laboureth for the principall point of faith. And though hee seeme to haue spoken generally of the resurrection, yet we may gather out of the text, that he beginneth with a farther point: and that he did comprehend those circumstances, which did properly appertain vnto the faith of the gospel. He cōplaineth that the Iewes did accuse him, because hee maintained the hope of the promise made to the fathers. Therefore this was the beginning and also the issue of the matter, that the couenant which God had made with the fathers, is referred vnto eternall saluation. Wherefore this was the summe of the disputation, that the Iewish religion was nothing worth, vnlesse they tooke heed to the heauens, and did also lift vp their eies vnto Christe the authour of the new life. They did boast that they were chosen from among all people of the worlde. But their adoption did profite them nothing, vnlesse they did trust to the promised Mediatour, and looke vnto the inheritance of the kingdom of god. Therfore we must conceiue much more then Luke doth plainely expresse. And surely his narration tendeth to no other end, saue only that we may know of what thinges Paul intreated.