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…

4 And we will give our selves unto prayer. They show again that they have too much business otherwise, wherein they may exercise themselves during their whole life. For the old proverb agreeth hereunto very fitly, which was used sometimes in the solemn rites, Do this. Therefore they use the word proscarteresai, which signifieth to be as it were fastened and tied to any thing. Therefore Pastors must not think, that they have so done their duty that they need to do no more, when they have daily spent some time in teaching. There is another manner of study, another manner of zeal, another manner of continuance required, that they may in deed boast that they are wholly given to that thing. They adjoin thereunto prayer, not that they alone ought to pray (for that is an exercise common to all the Godly) but because they have peculiar causes to pray above all other. There is no man which ought not to be careful for the common salvation of the Church, how much more then ought the Pastor, who hath that function enjoined him by name, to labour carefully for it?¹ So Moses did in deed exhort others unto prayer, but he went before them as the ring leader. And it is not without cause that Paul doth so often make mention of his prayers. Again we must always remember that, that we shall loose all our labour bestowed upon ploughing, sowing and watering, unless the increase come from heaven. Therefore it shall not suffice to take great pains in teaching, unless we require the blessing at the hands of the Lord, that our labour may not be in vain and unfruitful. Hereby it appeareth, that the exercise of prayer is not in vain commended unto the ministers of the word.

4 And we will giue our selues vnto prayer. They shewe againe that they haue too much busines otherwise, wherin they may exercise themselues during their whole life. For the olde prouerbe agreeth hereunto verie fitlie, which was vsed sometimes in the solemne rites, Doe this. Therefore they vse the word proscarteresai, which signifieth to be as it were fastned and tyed to any thing. Therefore Pastours must not thinke, that they haue so done their dutie that they need to do no more, when they haue daily spent some time in teaching. There is another manner of study, another maner of zeale, another maner of continuance required, that they may in deede boast that they are wholie giuen to that thing. They adioyne thereunto prayer, not that they alone ought to pray (for that is an exercise common to all the Godly) but because they haue peculiar causes to praie aboue all other. There is no man which ought not to be carefull for the common saluation of the Church, howe much more then ought the Pastour, who hath that function enioyned him by name, to labour carefullie for it?