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…

Arise and walk. This might seem to be a very ridiculous thing. For the Cripple might have readily objected, Why hast thou not first given me legs and feet? For this is a plain mock, when as thou biddest a man without feet, to go. But he believed Peter his words: and he which was at the first so slow, doeth now with a ready and joyful mind embrace Gods benefit. Whereby appeareth both the force of the word, and also the fruit of faith. The force of the word is double, both in that the Cripple is so touched, that he doth forthwith obey without any delay: and in that it giveth strength to his dead members, and doeth after a sort renew the man. And faith also hath her reward, in that the cripple obeyeth him which commanded him to rise not in vain. Therefore we see how God worketh by his word, ⟨p. 70⟩to wit, when he giveth success to the preaching thereof, that it may pierce into the minds of men: secondly when he giveth those things with his hand, which are promised there: moreover he suffereth not faith to be void, but she doeth in deed truly enjoy all those good things, which she looketh for, and which are offered unto her in the same word. And we must remember that which I have already said, that we have in this history a type or figure of our spiritual restoring: namely, that as the word laid hold on by faith, did restore the Cripple to his limbs, so the Lord pierceth into our souls by the word, that he may restore the same. And first of all he speaketh by mans mouth, and pricketh us forward unto the obedience of faith: that done he moveth our hearts inwardly by his spirit, that the word may take lively root in us: finally he reacheth out his hand, and by all means he finisheth his work in us. We gather out of Matthew that miracles must be thus handled.

Arise and walke. This might seeme to be a very ridiculous thing. For the Creeple might haue readilie obiected, Why hast thou not first giuen mee legges and feete? For this is a plaine mocke, when as thou biddest a man without feete, to goe. But he beleeued Peter his words: and hee which was at the first so slowe, doeth nowe with a readie and ioyfull minde embrace Gods benefite. Whereby appeareth both the force of the worde, and also the fruite of faith. The force of the worde is double, both in that the Creeple is so touched, that hee doth forthwith obey without any delay: and in that it giueth strength to his dead members, and doeth after a sort renew the man. And faith also hath her rewarde, in that the creeple obeyeth him which commaunded him to rise not in vaine. Therefore wee see how God worketh by his worde,