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…

39 For the promise appertaineth unto you. It was requisite that this should be expressly added, that the Jews might certainly think and persuade themselves, that the grace of Christ did belong as well to them as to the Apostles. And Peter proveth it thus, because the promise of God was made unto them. For we must always look unto this: because we cannot otherwise know the will of God, save only by his word. But it is not sufficient to have the general word, unless we know that the same is appointed for us. Therefore Peter saith, that those benefits which they see in him and his fellows in office, were in times past promised to the Jews: because this is required necessarily for the certainty of faith, that every one be fully persuaded of this, that he is comprehended in the number of those unto whom God speaketh. Finally, this is the rule of a true faith, when I am thus persuaded, that salvation is mine, because that promise appertaineth unto me, which offereth the same. And hereby we have also a greater confirmation, when as the promise is extended unto those, who were before a far off. For God had made the covenant with the Jews. If the force and fruit thereof come also unto the Gentiles, there is no cause why the Jews should doubt of themselves, but that they shall find the promise of God firm and stable.¹ And we must note these three degrees, that the promise was first made to the Jews, and then to their children, and last of all, that it is also to be imparted to the Gentiles. We know the reason why the Jews are preferred before other people, for they are as it were the first begotten in Gods family, yea they were then separated from other people by a singular privilege. Therefore Peter observeth a good order, when he giveth the Jews the preeminence. Whereas he adjoineth their children unto them, it dependeth upon the words of the promise: I will be thy God, and the God of thy ⟨p. 75⟩seed after thee. Where God doeth reckon the children with the fathers in the grace of adoption. This place therefore doeth abundantly refute the manifest error of the Anabaptists, which will not have infants which are the children of the faithful, to be baptised, as if they were not members of the Church.

39 For the promise apperteineth vnto you. It was requisite that this shoulde be expressely added, that the Iewes might certainly thinke and perswade themselues, that the grace of Christ did belong as wel to them as to the Apostles. And Peter prooueth it thus, because the promise of God was made vnto them. For we must alwayes looke vnto this: because we cannot otherwise know the wil of God, saue onely by his word. But it is not sufficient to haue the generall worde, vnlesse wee knowe that the same is appointed for vs. Therefore Peter saith, that those benefites which they see in him and his fellowes in office, were in times past promised to the Iewes: because this is required necessarilie for the certaintie of faith, that euery one be fully perswaded of this, that hee is comprehended in the number of those vnto whom God speaketh. Finally, this is the rule of a true faith, when I am thus perswaded, that saluation is mine, because that promise appertaineth vnto me, which offereth the same. And hereby we haue also a greater confirmation, when as the promise is extended vnto those, who were before a farre off. For God had made the couenant with the Iewes. If the force and fruite thereof come also vnto the Gentiles, there is no cause why the Iewes shoulde doubt of themselues, but that they shall finde the promise of God firme and stable.