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…

11 This is the stone. He confirmeth by testimony of Scripture that it is no new thing, that the ringleaders of the Church, which have glorious titles given them, and have the chief room in the Temple of God, have notwithstanding wickedly rejected Christ. Therefore he citeth a place out of the hundred and eighteenth Psalm:¹ where David complaineth that he is rejected of the Captain of the people, and yet notwithstanding he boasteth that he was chosen of God, to have the chief room. Moreover he compareth the Church or the state of the kingdom by an usual metaphor to a building. He calleth those which have the government, the masters of the work, and he maketh himself the principal stone, whereon the whole building is stayed and grounded. For that is meant by the head of the corner. Therefore this is Davids comfort, that howsoever the Captains have rejected him, so that they would not grant him even the basest place, yet did not their wicked and ungodly endeavours hinder him from being extolled by God, unto the highest degree of honour. But that was shadowed in David, which God would have perfectly expressed in the Messiah. Therefore Peter dealeth very aptly, when as he citeth this testimony, as being spoken before of Christ as they knew full well that it did agree properly to him. Now we know to what end Peter did cite the Psalm: to wit, least the Elders and Priests being unadvisedly puffed up with their honour, should take to themselves authority and liberty to allow or disallow whatsoever they would. For it is evident that the stone refused by the chief builders, is placed by Gods own hand in the chief place, that it may support the whole house. Furthermore this happeneth not once only, but it must be fulfilled daily: at least it must seem no new thing, if the chief builders do even now also reject Christ. Whereby the vain boasting of the Pope is plainly refuted, who maketh his boast of the bare title, that he may usurp whatsoever is Christs. Admit we grant to the Pope and his horned beasts that which they desire, to wit, that they are appointed to be ordinary pastors of the Church, ⟨p. 90⟩they can go no farther at length, than to be called chief builders with Annas and Caiaphas. And it is evident what account ought to be made of this title, which they think is sufficient to mix heaven & earth together.

11 This is the stone. He confirmeth by testimonie of Scripture that it is no new thing, that the ringleaders of the Church, which haue glorious titles giuen them, and haue the chiefe roome in the Temple of God, haue notwithstanding wickedlie reiected Christ. Therefore hee citeth a place out of the hundreth and eighteenth Psalme: