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…

3 He asketh an alms. We see how God restored this lame man to his limbs contrary to his expectation. Because he thought that his disease was incurable, he was only careful for maintenance. That is given him which he durst never have asked. In like sort God doth oftentimes prevent us, neither doth he stay until he be provoked. And hence can we not gather any occasion of slothfulness, as if the Lord did therefore meet us of his own accord, that being idle and slothful we may suffer the Lord to do good unto us. For we are commanded to pray, and therefore let us not forslow our duty. But first of all under the person of the lame man, we have set before us an example of a man that is not yet illuminated by faith, that he may know how to pray aright. Such doeth God prevent as it is needful, even of his own accord. Therefore when as he restoreth our souls not only to health, but also to life, he himself is to himself the cause hereof. For this is the beginning of our calling, that he may make those things to be which are not:¹ that he may show himself unto those who seek not after him. Furthermore howsoever we be already taught by faith to pray unto God, yet because we do not always feel our miseries, it cometh not into our mind to seek for remedy: therefore the Lord bringeth the same freely and unlooked for. Finally howsoever we be bent to pray, yet doeth he exceed our hope and petitions with his goodness.

3 He asketh an almes. We see how God restored this lame man to his limbes contrarie to his expectation. Because he thought that his disease was incurable, hee was onely carefull for maintenance. That is giuen him which he durst neuer haue asked. In like sort God doth oftentimes preuent vs, neither doth he stay vntill he be prouoked. And hence can we not gather any occasion of slouthfulnesse, as if the Lorde did therefore meete vs of his owne accorde, that being idle and slothfull we may suffer the Lord to doe good vnto vs. For wee are commaunded to praie, and therefore let vs not foreslowe our duetie. But first of all vnder the person of the lame man, wee haue set before vs an example of a man that is not yet illuminated by faith, that hee may know howe to pray aright. Such doeth God preuent as it is needefull, euen of his owne accorde. Therefore when as he restoreth our soules not onely to health, but also to life, hee himselfe is to himselfe the cause heereof. For this is the beginning of our calling, that hee may make those thinges to bee which are not: