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…

Which he spake. I do not expound this of the times alone: but I refer it unto the whole period: so that the sense is this, that whatsoever he had spoken before of the kingdom of Christ, is witnessed by all the prophets. Certes the Gospel doth win no small credit hereby, that so soon as God began to show himself to the world, he did always set Christ before them: after that he began to speak unto the Fathers, he did always lay this foundation of doctrine. By the same argument Paul commendeth the Gospel both in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romans, and also in the end, to wit, that it is no new thing, but promised even from the beginning.¹ This is true antiquity, which is able to purchase credit to doctrine: when as God himself is the author, the holy Prophets the witnesses: and the continual course of times confirmeth the testimony. This confirmation was especially necessary for the Jews, who being brought up in the doctrine of the law, ought to admit nothing but that which agreeth therewith. Therefore Peter doth command them only to call to mind those things which the prophets have testified of Christ.

Which hee spake. I do not expound this of the times alone: but I refer it vnto the whole period: so that the sense is this, that whatsoeuer he had spoken before of the kingdome of Christ, is witnessed by all the prophetes. Certes the Gospell doth winne no small credite heereby, that so soone as God began to shew himselfe to the worlde, he did alwayes set Christ before them: after that he began to speake vnto the Fathers, he did alwayes lay this foundation of doctrine. By the same argument Paul commendeth the Gospell both in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romanes, and also in the end, to wit, that it is no newe thing, but promised euē from the beginning.¹ This is true antiquitie, which is able to purchase credite to doctrine: when as God himselfe is the authour, the holie Prophetes the witnesses: and the continuall course of times confirmeth the testimonie. This confirmatiō was especially necessarie for the Iewes, who being brought vp in the doctrine of the law, ought to admit nothing but that which agreeth therewith. Therefore Peter doth commaunde them only to call to minde those thinges which the prophetes haue testified of Christe.

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