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…

37 It happened that she was sick. He saith in plain words that she was sick, that he may the more plainly express her death which followed. To the same end he saith that the corps was washed, and laid in an upper chamber. Therefore these circumstances serve to make the miracle to be believed. Whereas they carry her not straight way to the grave, but lay her in the upper part of the house, that they may keep her there, we may thereby gather that they had some hope of recovering her life. It is likely that the rite of washing, whereof Luke maketh mention, was most ancient. And I do not doubt but that it came from the holy fathers by continual course of times, as if it had bin delivered from hand to hand, that in death it self some visible image of the resurrection might comfort the minds of the godly, and lift them up unto some good hope: to wit, seeing the manifestation of eternal life was not so evident, yea seeing that Christ the pledge and substance of eternal life, was not as yet revealed, it was requisite that both the obscurity of doctrine, and also the absence of Christ should be supplied by such helps. Therefore they washed the bodies of the dead, that they might once stand before the judgement seat of God being clean. Finally there was the same reason for washing the dead, which was for the living: the daily washing put them in mind of this, that no man can please God, save he who should be purged from his filthiness. So in the rite of burying, God would have some sign extant, whereby men might be admonished, that they went polluted out of this life, by reason of that filthiness which they had gathered in the world. Washing did no more help those which were dead, than burial, but it was used to teach the living. For because death hath some show of destruction, least it should extinguish the faith of the resurrection, it was requisite that contrary shows should be set against it, that they might represent life in death. The Gentiles also took to them selves this Ceremony. For which cause Ennius saith, A good woman did wash and anoint Tarquinius his corps. But their imitation was but apish in ⟨p. 230⟩this thing as in all other Ceremonies. And Christians also have taken to themselves this example unadvisedly: as if the observation of a figure used under the Law ought to continue always.

37 It hapned that she was sicke. He saith in plaine words that shee was sicke, that he may the more plainely expresse her death which followed. To the same end he saith that the corps was washt, and laid in an vpper chamber. Therefore these circumstances serue to make the myracle to be beleeued. Whereas they carry her not streight way to the graue, but lay her in the vpper part of the house, that they may keep her there, we may thereby gather that they had some hope of recouering her life. It is likely that the rite of washing, whereof Luke maketh mention, was most auncient. And I doe not doubt but that it came from the holy fathers by cōtinual course of times, as if it had bin deliuered from hand to hand, that in death it selfe some visible image of the resurrection might comfort the minds of the godly, and lift them vp vnto some good hope: to wit, seing the manifestation of eternall life was not so euident, yea seing that Christ the pledge and substance of eternal life, was not as yet reuealed, it was requisite that both the obscuritie of doctrine, and also the absense of Christ should be supplied by such helpes. Therefore they washed the bodies of the deade, that they might once stand before the iudgement seat of God being cleane. Finally there was the same reason for washing the deade, which was for the liuing: the dayly washing put them in minde of this, that no man can please God, saue he who should be purged from his filthynes. So in the rite of burying, God would haue some signe extant, whereby men might be admonished, that they went polluted out of this life, by reason of that filthines which they had gathered in the world. Washing did no more help those which were dead, than buriall, but it was vsed to teach the liuing. For because death hath some shew of destruction, least it should extinguish the faith of the resurrection, it was requisite that contrary shewes should bee set against it, that they might represent life in death. The Gentiles also tooke to thē selues this Ceremonie. For which cause Ennius saith, A good woman did wash and anoynt Tarquinius his corps. But their imitation was but apish in