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…

They espy a starting hole in the allegorical sense, and they expound it thus, that by children are meant those which are spiritually begotten. But this gross impudency doth nothing help them. It is plain and evident that Peter spake thus, because God did adopt one nation peculiarly. And Circumcision did declare that the right of adoption was common even unto infants. Therefore even as God made his covenant with Isaac, being as yet unborn, because he was the seed of Abraham: so Peter teacheth that all the children of the Jews are contained in the same covenant, because this promise is always in force, I will be the God of your seed.

They espie a starting hole in the allegoricall sense, and they expounde it thus, that by children are meant those which are spirituallie begotten. But this grosse impudency doth nothing helpe them. It is plaine and euident that Peter spake thus, because God did addopt one nation peculiarly. And Circumcision did declare that the right of adoption was common euen vnto infantes. Therefore euen as God made his couenant with Isaach, being as yet vnborne, because hee was the seede of Abraham: so Peter teacheth that all the children of the Iewes are contained in the same couenant, because this promise is alwayes in force, I will bee the God of your seede.

And to those which are a far of. The Gentiles are named in the last place, which were before strangers. For those which refer it unto those Jews, which were exiled a far off and driven into far countries, they are greatly deceived. For he speaketh not in this place of the distance of place: but he noteth a difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, that they were first joined to God by reason of the covenant, and so consequently became of his family or household: but the Gentiles were banished from his kingdom. Paul useth the same speech in the second Chapter to the Ephesians,¹ that the Gentiles which were strangers from the promises, are now drawn near through Jesus Christ, unto God. Because that Christ (the wall of separation being taken away) hath reconciled both the Jews & Gentiles unto the Father, and coming he hath preached peace unto those which were nigh at hand, and which were a far off. Now we understand Peter his meaning. For to the end he may amplify the grace of Christ, he doeth so offer the same unto the Jews, that he sayeth the Gentiles are also partakers thereof. And therefore he useth this word Call, as if he should say: Like as GOD hath gathered you together into one peculiar people heretofore by his voice, so the same voice shall sound every where, that those which are a far off, may come and join themselves unto you, when as they shall be called by a new proclamation.