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…

33 Because the place wherein. The Lord meant by this commendation which he giveth to the place, to lift up the mind of Moses into heaven, that he might not think upon any earthly thing. And if so be it Moses was to be pricked forward with so many pricks, that having forgotten the earth, he might hearken to God: must not we have our sides even as it were digged through, seeing we are an hundred times more slow than he? Notwithstanding here may a question be asked, how this place became so holy? For it was no more holy than other places before that day. I answer that this honour is given to the presence of God, and not to the place, and that the holiness of the place is spoken of for mans sake. For if the presence of God do make the earth holy, how much more force thereof ought men to have. Notwithstanding we must also note, that the place was thus beautified only for a time, so that God did not fix his glory there:¹ as Jacob erected an altar to God in Bethel, after that God had showed some token of his presence there. When as his posterity did imitate the same afterward, it was such worship as was reproved. Finally the place is called holy for Moses his sake only, that he may the better address himself to fear God, and to obey him. Forasmuch as God doth now show himself unto us every where in Christ, and that in no obscure figures, but in the full light, and perfect truth, we must not only put off our shoes from our feet, but strip our selves stark naked of our selves.

33 Because the place wherein. The Lord meant by this commendation which he giueth to the place, to lift vp the minde of Moses into heauen, that he might not thinke vppon any earthly thing. And if so be it Moses was to be pricked forward with so many pricks, that hauing forgottē the earth, he might harken to God: must not we haue our sides euē as it were digged through, seing wee are an hundreth times more slow than hee? Notwithstanding here may a question be asked, how this place became so holy? For it was no more holy than other places before that day. I answere that this honor is giuen to the presence of God, and not to the place, and that the holinesse of the place is spoken of for mans sake. For if the presence of God doe make the earth holy, howe much more force thereof ought men to haue. Notwithstanding wee must also note, that the place was thus bewtified onely for a time, so that God did not fixe his glory there:¹