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…

Neither is there any other name. He expoundeth the sentence next going before. Salvation (saith he) is in Christ alone: because God hath decreed that it should be so. For by Name he meaneth the cause or mean. as if he should have said, For as much as salvation is in Gods power only, he will not have the same to be common to us by any other means, then if we ask it of Christ alone. Whereas he saith under heaven, they do commonly refer it unto creatures: as if he should say, that the force and power to save, is given to Christ alone. Notwithstanding I do rather think that this was added, because men cannot ascend into heaven, that they may come unto God. Therefore seeing we are so far from the kingdom of God, it is needful that God do not only invite us unto himself, but that reaching out his hand, he offer salvation unto us, that we may enjoy the same. Peter teacheth in this place, that he hath done that in Christ, because he came down into the earth for this cause,¹ that he might bring salvation with him. Neither is that contrary to this doctrine that Christ is ascended above all heavens. For he took upon him our flesh once for this cause, that he might be a continual pledge of our adoption. He hath reconciled the father to us for ever by the sacrifice of his death: by his resurrection he hath purchased for us eternal life. And he is present with us now also, that he may make us partakers of the fruit of eternal redemption: but the revealing of salvation is handled in this place, and we know that the same was so revealed in Christ, that we need not any longer to say, Who shall ascend into heaven? Rom. 10. And if so be this doctrine were deeply imprinted in the minds of all men,² then should so many controversies concerning the causes of salvation, be soon at an end, wherewith the Church is so much troubled. The Papists confess with us, that salvation is in God alone, but by and by they forge to themselves infinite ways to attain unto the same. But Peter calleth us back unto Christ alone. They dare not altogether deny that we have salvation given us by Christ: but whiles they feign so many helps, they leave him scarce the hundred part of salvation. But they were to seek for salvation at the hands of Christ, wholly:

Neither is there any other name. He expoundeth the sentence next going before. Saluation (saith he) is in Christ alone: because God hath decreed that it should be so. For by Name he meaneth the cause or mean. as if he shuld haue said, For as much as saluation is in Gods power only, he wil not haue the same to be common to vs by any other means, then if we aske it of Christ alone. Wheras he saith vnder heauen, they do commonly referre it vnto creatures: as if he shoulde say, that the force and power to saue, is giuen to Christ alone. Notwithstanding I do rather thinke that this was added, because men cannot ascende into heauen, that they may come vnto God. Therefore seing we are so farre from the kingdome of God, it is needfull that God doe not onely inuite vs vnto himselfe, but that reaching out his hand, he offer saluation vnto vs, that we may enioy the same. Peter teacheth in this place, that he hath done that in Christ, because he came downe into the earth for this cause,