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…

1 Luke declareth here upon what occasion, and to what end, and also with what rite Deacons were first made. He saith, When there arose a murmuring amongst the Disciples, it was appeased by this remedy, as it is said in the common proverb, Good laws have taken their beginning of evil manners. And it may seem to be a strange thing, seeing that this is a function so excellent and so necessary in the Church, why it came not into the Apostles minds at the first, before there was any such occasion ministered, to appoint Deacons, and why the Spirit of God did not give them such counsel which they take now, being as it were enforced thereunto. But that which happened, was both better then, and is also more profitable for us at this day, to be unto us an example. If the Apostles had spoken of choosing Deacons, before any necessity did require the same: they should not have had the people so ready: they should have seemed to avoid labour and trouble: many would not have offered so liberally into the hands of other men. Therefore it was requisite that the faithful should be convict by experience, that they might choose Deacons willingly, whom they saw they could not want: and that through their own fault. We learn in this history, that the Church cannot be so framed by and by, but that there remain somewhat to he amended, neither can so great a building be so finished in one day, that there may not something be added to make the same perfect. Furthermore we learn that there is no ordinance of God so holy and laudable, which is not either corrupt or made unprofitable through the fault of men. We wonder that things are never so well ordered in the world, but that there is always some evil mixed with the good; but it is the wickedness and corruption of our nature which causeth this. That was indeed a godly order whereof Luke made mention before, when the goods of all men being consecrated to God, were distributed to every man as he had need: when as the Apostles being as it were the stewards of God and the poor, had the chief government of the alms. But shortly after there ariseth a murmuring which troubleth this order. Here appeareth that corruption of men whereof I have spoken, which doeth not suffer us to use our good things.

1 Luke declareth here vpon what occasion, and to what ende, and also with what rite Deacons were first made. He saith, When there arose a murmuring amongst the Disciples, it was appeased by this remedie, as it is said in the common prouerbe, Good lawes haue taken their beginning of euill manners. And it may seeme to be a straunge thing, seeing that this is a function so excellent and so necessarie in the Church, why it came not into the Apostles mindes at the first, before there was any such occasion ministred, to appoint Deacons, and why the Spirite of God did not giue them such counsell which they take nowe, being as it were enforced thereunto. But that which happened, was both better then, and is also more profitable for vs at this day, to bee vnto vs an example. If the Apostles had spoken of chusing Deacons, before any necessitie did require the same: they should not haue had the people so ready: they should haue seemed to auoid labour and trouble: many would not haue offered so liberally into the hands of other men. Therefore it was requisite that the faithfull shoulde bee conuict by experience, that they might choose Deacons willingly, whom they saw they could not want: and that through their owne fault. We learne in this historie, that the Church cannot bee so framed by and by, but that there remaine somewhat to he amended, neither can so great a building bee so finished in one day, that there may not something be added to make the same perfect. Furthermore we learne that there is no ordinance of God so holie and laudable, which is not either corrupt or made vnprofitable through the faulte of men. Wee woonder that thinges are neuer so well ordered in the worlde, but that there is alwayes some euill mixed with the good; but it is the wickednesse and corruption of our nature which causeth this. That was indeede a godly order whereof Luke made mention before, when the goods of all men being consecrated to God, were distributed to euery man as hee had neede: when as the Apostles being as it were the stewardes of God and the poore, had the chiefe gouernement of the almes. But shortly after there ariseth a murmuring which trobleth this order. Here appereth that corruption of mē wherof I haue spoken, which doeth not suffer vs to vse our good things.