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…

Furthermore, whereas it is said, That he obtained it of the father, it is to be applied to the person of the Mediator. For both these are truly said, That Christ sent the Spirit from him self, and from the Father. He sent him from himself; because he is eternal God: From the Father; because in as much as he is man, he receiveth that of the Father which he giveth us. And Peter speaketh wisely according to the capacity ⟨p. 51⟩of the ignorant, least any man should move a question out of season concerning the power of Christ. And surely forasmuch as it is the office of Christ to direct us unto his Father, this is a most apt form of speaking for the use of godliness, that Christ being placed as it were in the middest between God and us, doth deliver unto us with his own hand, those gifts which he hath received at the hands of his Father. Furthermore, we must note this order that he sayeth, that the Spirit was sent by Christ after that he was exalted. This agreeth with those sentences: The Spirit was not yet given, because Christ was not yet glorified. And again, Unless I go hence, the Spirit will not come.¹ Not because the Spirit began then first to be given, wherewith the holy Fathers were endued since the beginning of the world: but because God did defer this more plentiful abundance of grace, until such time as he had placed Christ in his princely seat: which is signified by this word poured out, as we saw a little before. For by this means the force and fruit of Christ his death and resurrection is sealed: and we do also thereby know that we have lost nothing by Christ his departing out of the world: because though he be absent in body, yet is he present with us after a better sort, to wit, by the grace of his holy Spirit.

Furthermore, whereas it is saide, That he obteined it of the father, it is to be applyed to the person of the Mediatour. For both these are trulie saide, That Christ sent the Spirite from him selfe, and from the Father. He sent him from himselfe; because hee is eternall God: From the Father; because in as much as hee is man, hee receiueth that of the Father which he giueth vs. And Peter speaketh wisely according to the capacitie ⟨p. 51⟩of the ignorant, least any man shuld moue a question out of season concerning the power of Christ. And surely forasmuche as it is the office of Christ to direct vs vnto his Father, this is a most apt forme of speaking for the vse of godlinesse, that Christe being placed as it were in the middest betweene God and vs, doth deliuer vnto vs with his owne hande, those giftes which he hath receiued at the handes of his Father. Furthermore, we must note this order that hee sayeth, that the Spirite was sent by Christe after that he was exalted. This agreeth with those sentences: The Spirite was not yet giuen, because Christe was not yet glorified. And againe, Vnlesse I goe hence, the Spirite will not come.