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…

16 But here ariseth a question. For he sayeth that they were only baptized into the name of Christ, and that therefore they had not as yet received the holy Ghost. But Baptism must either be in vain and with out grace, or else it must have all the force which it hath from the holy Ghost. In Baptism we are washed from our sins: but Paul teacheth that our washing is the work of the holy Ghost.¹ The water used in Baptism is a sign of the blood of Christ: but Peter sayeth that it is the Spirit, by whom we are washed with the blood of Christ. Our old man is crucified in Baptism, that we may be raised up unto newness of life: and whence cometh all this, save only from the sanctification of the Spirit? And finally what shall remain in Baptism, if it be separate from the spirit? Therefore we must not deny but that the Samaritans who had put on Christ in deed in Baptism, had also his spirit given them. And surely Luke speaketh not in this place of the common grace of the spirit, whereby God doth regenerate us, that we may be his children, but of those singular gifts, wherewith God would have certain endued at the beginning of the Gospel, to beautify Christs kingdom. Thus must the words of John be understood, that the disciples had not the spirit given them as yet, forasmuch as Christ was yet conversant in the world: not that they were altogether destitute of the spirit, seeing that they had from the same both faith, and a godly desire to follow Christ, but because they were not furnished with those excellent gifts, wherein appeared afterward greater glory of Christ his kingdom. To conclude, for as much as the Samaritans were already endowed with the spirit of adoption, the excellent graces of the spirit are heaped upon them, in which God showed to his Church for a time as it were the visible presence of his spirit, that he might establish for ever the authority of his Gospel, and also testify that his spirit shall be always the governor and directer of the faithful.

16 But here ariseth a question. For hee saieth that they were onely baptized into the name of Christ, and that therefore they had not as yet receiued the holy Ghost. But Baptisme must either be in vaine and with out grace, or else it must haue all the force which it hath from the holie Ghost. In Baptisme we are washed from our sinnes: but Paule teacheth that our washing is the worke of the holy Ghost.¹