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…

Therefore to the end the Prophet may establish our faith in Christ, after that he had described him to be stricken with the hand of God, and to be subject to be slain, he putteth upon him a new person now to wit, that he cometh up out of the depth of death as a conqueror, & our of the very hell, being the author of eternal life. I know in deed that this place is diversly expounded: some there be which understand by this, that he was carried from the prison to the cross: other some there be, who think that to be taken away, doth signify as much, as to be brought to nought. And indeed the signification of the Hebrew word Lacham, is doubtful, as is also the signification of the Greek word Airesthai. But he which shall throughly weigh the Text, shall agree with me in that which I have said: that he passeth now from that doleful and unseemly sight which he had set before our eyes, unto the new beginning of unlooked for glory. Therefore the Greek interpretation differeth not much from the words of the prophet, in the sum of the matter. For Christs judgement was exalted in his humility, or casting down: because at such time as he might seem to be cast down and oppressed, the father maintained his cause. After this sort judgement shall be taken in this place (as in many other) for right. But it signifieth condemnation in the Hebrew text. For the Prophet saith, that after that Christ shall be brought into great straits, and shall be like unto a condemned and lost man, he shall be lifted up by the hand of the Father. Therefore the meaning of the words is, that Christ must first have suffered death, before the Father should exalt him unto the glory of his kingdom. Which doctrine must be translated unto the whole body of the church: because all the godly ought wonderfully to be lifted up with the hand of God, that they be not swallowed up of death. But when God appeareth to be the revenger of his, he doth not only restore them to life, but also getteth to them excellent triumphs of many deaths: as Christ did triumph most gloriously upon the cross, whereof the apostle maketh mention in the second chapter to the Colossians.

Therefore to the end the Prophet may establish our faith in Christe, after that he had described him to be striken with the hand of God, and to be subiect to be slaine, he putteth vpon him a new person now to wit, that he commeth vp out of the depth of death as a conqueror, & our of the very hell, being the authour of eternal life. I know in deed that this place is diuersly expounded: some there bee which vnderstande by this, that he was carried from the prison to the crosse: other some there bee, who thinke that to be taken away, doth signifie as much, as to be brought to nought. And indeed the signification of the Hebrew word Lacham, is doubtfull, as is also the signification of the Greeke worde Airesthai. But he which shall throughly weigh the Text, shall agree with mee in that which I haue said: that he passeth now from that dolefull and vnseemely sight which he had set before our eies, vnto the new beginning of vnlooked for glory. Therefore the Greeke interpretation differeth not much from the words of the prophet, in the summe of the matter. For Christs iudgement was exalted in his humilitie, or casting down: because at such time as he might seeme to be cast down and oppressed, the father maintained his cause. After this sort iudgement shall be taken in this place (as in many other) for right. But it signifieth condemnation in the Hebrew text. For the Prophet saith, that after that Christ shall bee brought into great straites, and shalbe like vnto a condemned and lost man, he shalbe lifted vp by the hand of the Father. Therfore the meaning of the words is, that Christ must first haue suffered death, before the Father shoulde exalt him vnto the glory of his kingdom. Which doctrine must be translated vnto the whole bodie of the church: because all the godly ought wonderfully to be lifted vp with the hand of God, that they be not swallowed vppe of death. But when God appeareth to bee the reuenger of his, he doth not only restore them to life, but also getteth to them excellent triumphes of many deathes: as Christ did triumph most gloriously vpon the crosse, wherof the apostle maketh mention in the second chapter to the Collossians.