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…

2 The twelve having called the multitude unto them. It is a point of patience and meekness that the Apostles are no more moved: It is a point of prudence and godly carefulness, in that they prevent the evil which began to arise, without deferring the remedy. For after that every dissension and division hath gathered strength, it is a wound hard to be cured. By this assembly it appeareth that the Church was governed by order and reason, so that the Apostles had the chiefest authority, and ⟨p. 127⟩that yet they did impart their counsels and purposes unto the people. Again we must note that the faithful or Christians are in this place called disciples, in wh•m that of Isaiah must be fulfilled, That they were all taught of God. And again that of Jeremiah, They shall all know God from the least to the greatest.

2 The twelue hauing called the multitude vnto them. It is a point of patience and meekenes that the Apostles are no more moued: It is a point of prudence and godly carefulnesse, in that they preuent the euil which began to arise, without deferring the remedie. For after that euery dissension and diuision hath gathered strength, it is a wound hard to be cured. By this assemblie it appeareth that the Church was gouerned by order and reason, so that the Apostles had the chiefest authoritie, and ⟨p. 127⟩that yet they did impart their counsels and purposes vnto the people. Againe wee must note that the faithfull or Christians are in this place called disciples, in wh•m that of Isaias must be fulfilled, That they were all taught of God. And againe that of Ieremie, They shal al know God from the least to the greatest.

It pleaseth not. It is in Greek ouc areston. By which word the Grecians do now express every opinion or decree which is better then other, or which is to be preferred as being better. I do rather think that the Apostles declare what is profitable, than simply what they have decreed. But if it be not expedient for them to meddle with this business, they seem not to acknowledge some fault in that that they ministered hitherto. And surely that is true, that, Use is the father of wisdom. Wherefore there shall be no absurdity, if we shall say, that the Apostles desire of the Church to be unburdened of that function, after that they have tried that it is not meet for them. But if there were any fault, it ought rather to be ascribed unto necessity, than unto them. For they took not this burden upon them greedily, but seeing there was no other way as yet, they had liefer burden themselves out of measure, than that the poor should be forslowed. And when as they say that it is not meet that they should be occupied in providing for the poor, their meaning is that they are unable to endure both burdens, so that they must needs let the one alone. For it is as if they should say: If thou wilt enjoy our ministry in the preaching of the Gospel, deliver us from the charge of the poor, because we are not able to do both. But this seemeth to be spoken out of season by them, because they had not left the charge of teaching before, although they had the oversight of the alms. I answer, for as much as the administration was confused, they were so inwrapped, that they could not wholly attend upon doctrine, as was meet. Therefore they refuse that function which draweth them away from the free and perfect charge of teaching. Notwithstanding we may not think that they had quite cast away all care of the poor, but that they did only seek somewhat to be lightened & eased, that they might attend upon their office. And in the mean season they declare that the ministry of the word is so painful, that it requireth a whole man, neither will it suffer him to be occupied about any other business. Which if it had been well considered, there had ben a far other order taken in the Church. The popish bishops did sack up great riches under colour of the ministration or deaconship: nevertheless they entangled themselves in divers businesses: