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…

The Angel of the Lord appeared unto him. It is first demanded who this angel ⟨p. 153⟩was: and secondly why he appeared in such a form? For after that Luke had called him an Angel, he bringeth him in immediately speaking thus: I am the God of Abraham &c. Some answer. As God doth sometime attribute and impart unto his ministers those things which are most proper to himself: so is it no absurd or inconvenient thing if they have his name given them. But seeing this Angel affirmeth manifestly, that he is the eternal God, who alone is, and in whom all things have their being, we must needs restrain this title unto the essence of God: for it can by no means agree to the Angels. It might be said more fitly, that Because the Angel speaketh in the name of the Lord, he taketh upon him his person: as if he declared his commandments word for word, as out of the mouth of God. Which manner of speaking is usual in the Prophets. But when Luke shall say afterward that this was the same Angel, through whose assistance and guiding Moses delivered the people: and Paul in the tenth Chapter of the former to the Corinthians doth affirm that Christ was that guide,¹ there is no cause why we should now wonder, that the Angel taketh to himself that which is proper to God alone. Therefore let us first of all set down this for a surety that there was never since the beginning any communication between god and men, save only by Christ. For we have nothing to do with God, unless the mediator be present to purchase his favour for us. Therefore this place, doeth plentifully prove the Divinity of Christ, and teacheth that he is of the same essence with the father. Furthermore he is called an Angel not only because he had the Angels always to bear him company, and to be as it were his apparitors, but because that deliverance of the people did shadow the redemption of us all, for whose sake Christ was to be sent of his father, that he might take upon him the shape of a servant together with our flesh. It is certain in deed that God did never appear unto men as he is, but under some shape, agreeable to their capacity. Notwithstanding there is another reason why Christ is called by this name, because he being appointed by the eternal counsel of God to be unto men the minister of salvation, doeth appear unto Moses to this end.

The Angel of the Lord appeared vnto him. It is first demāded who this angel ⟨p. 153⟩