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…

Testifying both to small and great. We have said else where that it is more to testify than to teach: as if there were some solemn contestation made between God and men, that the Gospel may have his majesty. And he sayeth that he is a witness both to great and small, that king Agrippa may perceive that this doth appertain even to him: and that when the Gospel is offered even to every simple man, that doeth no whit hinder but that it may ascend even unto the throne of Princes. For Christ doth gather all men into his bosom with one & the same embracing, that those who lay before in the dung hill, and are now extolled unto so great honour, may rejoice in his free goodness, and that those who are placed in high degree of honour, may willingly humble themselves, and not grudge to have some of the base and contemptible multitude for their brethren, that they may be made the children of God. So in the first chapter to the Romans, He saith that he is indebted both to the fools and to the wise, least the Romans should be kept back with the confidence which they might repose in their wisdom, from submitting themselves to his doctrine. By this let us learn that it is not in the teachers will to make choice of his hearers, and that they do no less do injury to God then defraud men of their right, whosoever they be which restrain their labour unto great men, whom God doth join with those which are small. It were too cold to restrain this unto ages. Wherefore I do not doubt but that Paul taketh away the exception which useth to be between the noble and unnoble, because he was neither afraid of the dignity of the one, neither did he loath the baseness of the other, but did show himself a faithful teacher to both alike.

Testifying both to small and great. Wee haue saide els where that it is more to testifie than to teach: as if there were some solemne contestation made betweene God and men, that the Gospel may haue his maiestie. And he saieth that hee is a witnesse both to great and small, that king Agrippa may perceiue that this doth appertaine euen to him: and that when the Gospell is offered euen to euery simple man, that doeth no whit hinder but that it may ascend euen vnto the throne of Princes. For Christ doth gather al mē into his bosom with one & the same imbracing, that those who lay before in the doung hill, and are now extolled vnto so great honour, may reioyce in his free goodnesse, and that those who are placed in high degree of honour, may willingly humble themselues, and not grudge to haue some of the base and contemptible multitude for their brethren, that they may bee made the children of God. So in the first chapter to the Romanes, Hee saith that he is indebted both to the fooles and to the wise, least the Romanes should bee kept backe with the confidence which they might repose in their wisedome, from submitting themselues to his doctrine. By this let vs learne that it is not in the teachers wil to make choyse of his hearers, and that they doe no lesse doe iniurie to God then defraude men of their right, whosoeuer they be which restraine their labour vnto great men, whom God doth ioyne with those which are small. It were too cold to restrain this vnto ages. Wherefore I doe not doubt but that Paule taketh away the exception which vseth to bee between the noble and vnnoble, because he was neither afraide of the dignitie of the one, neither did he loath the basenesse of the other, but did shew himself a faithfull teacher to both alike.