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…

5 Stephen full of faith. Luke doth not therefore separate faith from the Spirit, as if it also were not a gift of the Spirit: but by Spirit he meaneth other gifts wherewith Stephen was endowed, as zeal, wisdom, uprightness, brotherly love, diligence, integrity of a good conscience: secondly he expresseth the principal kind. Therefore he signifieth that Stephen did excel first in faith, and secondly in other virtues, so that it was evident that he had abundance of the grace of the Spirit. He doth not so greatly commend the rest, because undoubtedly they were inferior to him. Moreover the ancient writers, do with great consent affirm that this Nicholas, which was one of the seven, is the same of whom John maketh mention in the Revelation: to wit,¹ that he was an author of a filthy and wicked sect: for as much as he would have women to be common. For which cause we must not be negligent in choosing ministers of the Church. For if the hypocrisy of men do deceive even those, which are most vigilant and careful to take heed, what shall befall the careless and negligent? Notwithstanding if when we have used such circumspection as is meet, it so fall out that we be ⟨p. 130⟩deceived, let us not be troubled out of measure, for as much as Luke saith, that even the Apostles were subject to this inconvenience. Some will ask this question, Then what good shall exhortation do? to what use serveth prayer? seeing that the success it self showeth that the election was not wholly governed by the Spirit of God? I answer, that this is a great matter that the Spirit directed their judgements in choosing six men: in that he suffereth the Church to go astray in the seventh, it ought to seem no absurd thing. For it is requisite that we be thus humbled divers ways, partly that the wicked and ungodly may exercise us: partly that being taught by their example, we may learn to examine our selves throughly, least there be in us any hidden and privy starting corners of guile: partly that we may be more circumspect to discern, and that we may as it were keep watch continually, least we be deceived by crafty and unfaithful men. Also it may be that the ministry of Nicolas was for a time profitable, and that he fell afterward into that monstrous error. And if so be it he fell in such sort from such an honourable degree;

5 Stephen full of faith. Luke doth not therefore separate faith from the Spirite, as if it also were not a gift of the Spirite: but by Spirit hee meaneth other gifts wherewith Stephen was endewed, as zeale, wisedome, vprightnesse, brotherly loue, diligence, integritie of a good conscience: secondly hee expresseth the principall kinde. Therefore he signifieth that Stephen did excell first in faith, and secondly in other vertues, so that it was euident that hee had abundance of the grace of the Spirite. He doth not so greatlie commende the rest, because vndoubtedly they were inferiour to him. Moreouer the auncient writers, doe with great consent affirme that this Nicholas, which was one of the seauen, is the same of whom Iohn maketh mention in the Reuelation: to wit,