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…

Be baptised every one of you. Although in the text & order of the words, Baptism doth here go before remission of sins: yet doth it follow it in order: because it is nothing else but a sealing of those good things which we have by Christ, that they may be established in our consciences. Therefore after that Peter had entreated of Repentance, he calleth the Jews unto the hope of grace & salvation. And therefore Luke well afterward in Paul his sermon, joineth faith and repentance together in the same sense, wherein he putteth forgiveness of sins in this place. And that for good considerations. For the hope of salvation consisteth in the free imputation of righteousness. And we are counted just, freely before God, when he forgiveth us our sins. And as I said before, that the doctrine of repentance hath a daily use in the church, so must we think of the forgiveness of sins, that the same is continually offered unto us. And surely it is no less necessary for us during the whole course of our life, then at our first entrance into the church. So that it should profit us nothing, to be once received into favour by God, unless this embassy should have a continual course.¹ Be reconciled unto God: because he which knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in him. Moreover, the Papists do so corrupt this other part of the Gospel: that they quite exclude the remission of sins, which was to be obtained by Christ. They confess that sins are freely forgiven in baptism, but they will have them redeemed with satisfactions after baptism: & although they mix the grace of Christ together therewithal, yet because they inwrap the same in mens merits, they do by this means overthrow the whole doctrine of the gospel. For first they take from mens consciences the certainty of faith: that done, forasmuch as they part the forgiveness of sins between the death of Christ & our satisfactions, they do altogether deprive us of Christ his benefit. For Christ doth not reconcile us unto God in part, but wholly, neither can we obtain remission of sins by him unless it be whole & perfect. But the papists are much deceived therein who restrain baptism unto the nativity & former life, as if the signification & force thereof did not reach even unto death.

Be baptised euery one of you. Although in the text & order of the words, Baptisme doth here go before remission of sinnes: yet doth it folow it in order: because it is nothing els but a sealing of those good things which we haue by Christ, that they may be established in our cōsciences. Therfore after that Peter had intreated of Repentance, he calleth the Iewes vnto the hope of grace & saluation. And therefore Luke well afterwarde in Paul his sermon, ioyneth faith and repentance together in the same sense, wherein he putteth forgiuenesse of sinnes in this place. And that for good considerations. For the hope of saluation consisteth in the free imputation of rightuousnes. And we are counted iust, freely before God, when he forgiueth vs our sins. And as I said before, that the doctrin of repentance hath a daily vse in the church, so must we think of the forgiuenes of sins, that the same is continually offred vnto vs. And surely it is no lesse necessary for vs during the whole course of our life, then at our first entrance into the church. So that it should profit vs nothing, to be once receiued into fauour by God, vnlesse this ambassage should haue a continual course.