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…

CHAP. I.

1 The former speech truly have we had, ô Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and teach, 2 Even until that day, wherein after he had given commandment by the holy Ghost to the Apostles, which he had chosen, he was taken up.

1 THe former speech truely haue we had, ô Theophilus, of al things which Iesus began to do and teach, 2 Euen vntill that day, wherein after he had giuen commaundement by the holie Ghost to the Apostles, which he had chosen, he was taken vp.

1 That he may pass over unto those things which followed the ascension of Christ: he briefly gathereth the sum of all those, which before he had handled in the former book, that he may annex this thereunto. And he briefly setteth down this description of the history of the Gospel, that it is a narration of those things which Christ did & said so long as he was conversant upon earth. Furthermore whereas they interpret this commonly, that there was first in Christ purity of life, before such time as he began to preach, it maketh nothing unto Luke his mind. Truth it is, that the manners of a good and godly teacher ought so to be framed, that he speak first with his life, then with his tongue, otherwise he should differ nothing from a stage player.¹ But Luke hath respect rather unto that which he had said about the end of his Gospel, namely, that Christ was a prophet mighty in deed and word, that is, such a one as did excel no less in deeds than in words: Although there be but small difference betwixt these two places. For the mightiness of works which is commended there, doth belong unto his miracles, but this, To do, doth reach further in my opinion, namely, that under the same are comprehended all the famous acts which were proper unto his ministry, wherein his death & resurrection are the chiefest. For the office of the Messiah did not only consist in doctrine, but it was also behoveful that he should make peace between God and man, that he should be a redeemer of the people, a restorer of the kingdom, and an author of everlasting felicity. Al these things, I say, as they were promised of the Messiah, so were they looked for at his hands. Now we see that the sum of the Gospel consisteth of these two parts, namely of the doctrine of Christ, & of his acts: for as much as he did not only bring unto men that embassage which was given him in charge of his father: but also performed all things that could be required of the Messiah. He began his kingdom, he pacified God with his sacrifice, he purged mans sins with his own precious blood, he subdued death and the devil, he restored us unto true liberty, he purchased righteousness & life for us. And to the end, that whatsoever he either did or said might be certain, he proved himself by miracles to be the son of