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…

You shall receive power. Our saviour Christ doth here call them back as well unto the promise of god, as also unto his commandment, which was the readiest way to bridle their curiosity. Curiosity doth rise almost always either of idleness or else of distrust: distrust is cured by meditating upon the promises of god. And his commandments do tell us how we ought to occupy our selves & employ our studies. Therefore he commandeth his disciples to wait for the promise of God, & to be diligent in executing their office whereunto God had called them. And in the mean season he noteth their great hastiness, in that they did preposterously catch at those gifts which were proper unto the holy Spirit, whenas they were not as yet endued with the same. Neither did they take the right way herein, in that being called to go on warfare, they desire (omitting their labour) to take their case in their inn. Therefore when he saith you shall receive power: he admonisheth them of their imbecility, least they follow before the time, those things whereunto they cannot attain. It may be read very well either way, You shall receive the power of the spirit: or, The spirit coming upon you: yet the latter way seemeth to be the better, because it doth more fully declare their defect and want, until such time as the Spirit should come upon them.

You shal receiue power. Our sauiour Christ doth here call them backe as wel vnto the promise of god, as also vnto his commandment, which was the readiest way to bridle their curiositie. Curiositie doth rise almost alwaies either of idlenes or els of distrust: distrust is cured by meditating vpon the promises of god. And his commandements do tell vs how wee ought to occupy our selues & imploy our studies. Therfore he commandeth his disciples to wait for the promise of God, & to be diligent in executing their office wherunto God had called them. And in the meane season he noteth their great hastinesse, in that they did preposterously catch at those gifts which wer proper vnto the holy Spirit, whenas they were not as yet indued with the same. Neither did they take the right way herein, in that being called to goe on warfare, they desire (omitting their labor) to take their case in their ynne. Therefore when he saith you shal receiue power: he admonisheth thē of their imbecillitie, least they follow before the time, those things wherunto they cānot attain. It may be read very wel either way, You shall receiue the power of the spirite: or, The spirit comming vpon you: yet the latter way seemeth to be the better, because it doth more fully declare their defect and want, vntill such time as the Spirite should come vpon them.