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…

Our men think that there is some cause noted, to wit, that through that seed the Gentiles shall be blessed. The Jews toss this to & fro, because this phrase signifieth every where in the scriptures an example or similitude: as on the other side to be cursed in Sodom, in Israel, or in an other people, is to take them for a notable example of a curse. I answer that it is a doubtful speech, & taken diversly according to the circumstance of the places which the Jews do craftily dissemble. For they gather many places, out of which they prove that there is a comparison made: as if it should be said, The gentiles shall desire to be blessed like to the seed of Abraham. But when as the scripture saith elsewhere, They shall bless themselves in the living God: as Jere. 4. Isaiah 65.¹ And again, do bless in the name of the Lord, Deut 10. and in other such like places: who doth not see that there is a cause expressed? Therefore I say that this form of speech ought to be understood according to the circumstances of the places. And now forasmuch as I have declared that the seed of Abraham can be found no where else save only in Christ, it remaineth that we consider of what sort the office of Christ is. So shall it appear undoubtedly, that he is not made a bare example or pattern, but that the blessing is truly promised in him: because without him we be all accursed. Yet there remaineth one doubt. For certes both these are spoken in one sense: They shall be blessed in thee, &, In thy seed. But Abraham was nothing else but a type or mirror of the blessing. I answer that in the person of Abraham that body is also noted out, which dependeth upon one head & is knit together in the same.

Our men think that there is some cause noted, to wit, that through that seed the Gentiles shalbe blessed. The Iewes tosse this to & fro, because this phrase signifieth euery where in the scriptures an exāple or similitude: as on the otherside to be cursed in Sodom, in Israel, or in an other people, is to take them for a notable example of a curse. I answere that it is a doubtful speech, & taken diuersly according to the circumstance of the places which the Iewes do craftily dissemble. For they gather many places, out of which they proue that there is a cō parison made: as if it should be said, The gentiles shall desire to be blessed like to the seed of Abraham. But when as the scripture saith elswhere, They shall blesse themselues in the liuing God: as