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…

36 What letteth me? The Eunuch his baptism ensueth now, whence we gather, how greatly he profited in a small time, seeing he offereth himself willingly to give Christ his name. For it must needs be that faith was after a sort ripe in his heart, seeing that he brake out into external profession with such desire. I like not that which Chrysostom noteth, that he was kept back with modesty from requiring baptism plainly: for that interrogation hath greater vehemency than if he should simply have said to Philip, I will have thee to baptize me. But we ⟨p. 207⟩see that Christ was preached to him in such sort, that he knew that baptism was a sign of new life in him, & that therefore he would not neglect the same, because it was added to the word, & such an addition as was inseparable. Therefore as he embraced that willingly, which he hard concerning Christ, so now he breaketh out with a godly zeal into the external confession of faith, neither doth he think it sufficient for him to believe inwardly before God, unless he testify before men that he is a christian. There might many things have come into his mind, which might have kept him back from being baptized, least that he should lay himself open to the hatred and rebukes both of the queen, and also of the whole nation. But he denieth that any of these things doth hinder him from desiring to be numbered amongest the disciples of Christ. If being instructed but a few hours he came to this point, how filthy is the sluggishness of those men, who suppress the faith which they have conceived, having been taught five, ten, or twenty years.

36 What letteth me? The Eunuch his baptisme ensueth now, whence we gather, how greatly he profited in a small time, seeing he offereth himselfe willingly to giue Christ his name. For it must needes bee that faith was after a sort ripe in his heart, seeing that hee brake out into externall profession with such desire. I like not that which Chrysostom noteth, that hee was kept backe with modestie from requiring baptisme plainely: for that interrogation hath greater vehemencie than if hee should simply haue said to Philip, I will haue thee to baptize me. But we ⟨p. 207⟩see that Christ was preached to him in such sort, that he knew that baptisme was a signe of new life in him, & that therefore he would not neglect the same, because it was added to the worde, & suche an addition as was inseparable. Therfore as he embraced that willingly, which he hard concerning Christ, so now hee breaketh out with a godly zeale into the externall confession of faith, neither doth he thinke it sufficient for him to beleeue inwardly before God, vnlesse he testifie before men that hee is a christian. Ther might many things haue come into his mind, which might haue kept him back from being baptized, least that he should lay himself open to the hatred and rebukes both of the queene, and also of the whole nation. But he denieth that any of these thinges doth hinder him from desiring to be numbred amongest the disciples of Christe. If being instructed but a few houres he came to this point, how filthy is the sluggishnes of those men, who suppresse the faith which they haue conceiued, hauing been taught fiue, ten, or twentie yeeres.