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…

10 Stephen addeth the means, because God gave him favour in the sight of Pharaoh. God could have delivered him by some other means, but his counsel had respect unto a farther thing, that Joseph being ruler of the kingdom, might entertain his father & all his family. In these two words favour & wisdom, there is the figure Hipallage. For the wisdom wherewith Joseph was endued, was the cause that he found favour. Although I confess that they were two distinct benefits. For though Joseph were a faithful interpreter of dreams, and did excel in divine wisdom, yet the proud tyrant would never have brought him to so great honour, unless God had bent the mind of Pharaoh unto a certain unwonted love: yet notwithstanding we must consider that order, whereby God useth to bring him into favour. Wisdom doeth not only signify the ⟨p. 145⟩gift of prophecy in interpreting dreams, but prudence in giving counsel: for Moses putteth in both. That which Stephen reporteth of one man in this place, is extended unto all. For what aptness and readiness soever is in men, it ought to be reckoned amongst the gifts of God, and that his special gifts. And it is he that giveth good success as it pleaseth him, that his gifts may be profitable to that end for which it seemed good to him to give them. Therefore although Joseph be made chief ruler of Egypt by Pharaoh, yet is he lifted up to so great honour properly by the hand of God.

10 Steeuen addeth the meanes, because God gaue him fauour in the sight of Pharao. God could haue deliuered him by some other meanes, but his counsel had respect vnto a farther thing, that Ioseph being ruler of the kingdom, might entertain his father & al his familie. In these two wordes fauour & wisdome, there is the figure Hipallage. For the wisdome wherewith Ioseph was endued, was the cause that he founde fauour. Although I confesse that they were two distinct benefites. For though Ioseph were a faithful interpreter of dreames, and did excell in diuine wisdome, yet the proud tyrant woulde neuer haue brought him to so great honour, vnlesse God had bent the minde of Pharao vnto a certaine vnwonted loue: yet notwithstanding we must consider that order, whereby God vseth to bring him into fauour. Wisdome doeth not only signifie the ⟨p. 145⟩gift of prophesie in interpreting dreames, but prudence in giuing counsell: for Moses putteth in both. That which Steeuen reporteth of one man in this place, is extended vnto all. For what aptnes and readinesse soeuer is in men, it ought to be reckoned amongst the giftes of God, and that his speciall giftes. And it is he that giueth good successe as it pleaseth him, that his gifts may be profitable to that end for which it semed good to him to giue them. Therefore although Ioseph bee made chiefe ruler of Egypt by Pharao, yet is he lifted vp to so great honour properly by the hand of God.