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…

27 Have met together in this city. They declare that this prophecy was proved to be true by the event, to the end they may believe the same more assuredly. For the sense is, Lord thou hast spoken it, and we have in trueth tried the same to be true. And they call to mind that which was done four years before or there about. In like sort it is expedient for us to apply the events of things which are foretold, to the confirmation of our faith. But because it might seem that the matter fell out far otherwise then, than the Psalm pronounceth, forasmuch as they raged not in vain, neither were the assaults of the enemies frustrate, when they had put Christ to death: and their violence went further afterward after a fearful manner: the faithful remove this offence: and say that the enemies could do no more, than God had appointed. Therefore howsoever the wicked did suppose that Christ was quite taken away by death, and did now vainly triumph, yet the faithful confess that their rage was all but vain. But here may a question be moved, why he calleth them the Gentiles and people of Israel, seeing there was but one body. I think that the diversity of countries is noted in this place, out of which the Jews came together to the feast: as if they should have said, that the Jews which were borne in divers places, having made as it were a concourse, did assault the kingdom of Christ, yet was their fury frustrate and of none effect.

27 Haue met togither in this citie. They declare that this prophecie was prooued to bee true by the euent, to the ende they may belieue the same more assuredly. For the sense is, Lorde thou hast spoken it, and we haue in trueth tryed the same to be true. And they call to mynde that which was done fowre yeeres before or there about. In like sort it is expedient for vs to applie the euents of things which are foretolde, to the confirmation of our faith. But because it might seeme that the matter fell out farre otherwise then, than the Psalme pronounceth, for asmuch as they raged not in vaine, neither were the assaultes of the enemies frustrate, when they had put Christ to death: and theire violence went further afterward after a fearefull manner: the faithfull remooue this offence: and say that the enemies could doe no more, than God had appoynted. Therefore howsoeuer the wicked did suppose that Christ was quite taken awaye by death, and did now vainlie triumph, yet the faithfull confesse that their rage was all but vaine. But here may a question be mooued, why he calleth them the Gentiles and people of Israel, seing there was but one bodie. I think that the diuersitie of countries is noted in this place, out of which the Iewes came togither to the feast: as if they should haue said, that the Iewes which were borne in diuers places, hauing made as it were a concourse, did assault the kingdome of Christ, yet was their furie frustrate and of none effect.