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…

40 When they were all put forth. When as he taketh a time to pray, he seemeth as yet to doubt, what will be the end. When he healed Aeneas he brake out into these words without making any stop, Aeneas, Jesus Christ make thee whole. But as the operation of the Spirit is not always alike and the same, it may be that though he knew the power of God, yet he went forward unto the miracle by degrees. Yet it seemeth to be an absurd thing, that he putteth all the Saints out of the chamber, for whom it had been better to have seen it with their eyes, but because the Lord had not as yet revealed the time when, and the manner how he would show forth his power, he desireth to be alone, that he might the more fitly pray. Also it might be that he knew some other reason which moved him to do this, which we know not. It is recorded in the sacred history that Elisha did the same:¹ for he being alone, and not so much as the mother of the child with him, doth stretch himself thrice upon the dead corps. For the Spirit of God hath his vehement motions, which if any man will square out according to the common use of men, or measure by the sense of the flesh, he shall do wickedly and unjustly. We must this think: when as Peter, as it were doubting, seeketh a by place, he preventeth superstition, least any man should ascribe to his power the work of God, whereof he was only a minister. For he which withdrew himself from company, and did pray so instantly, did plainly confess that the matter was not in his own hand. Therefore when Peter waiteth to know what pleaseth the Lord, he confessed that he alone was the author of the work. Kneeling in time of prayer is a token of humility, which hath a double profit: that all our members may be applied unto the worship of God: and that the external exercise of the body may help the weakness of the mind. But we must take heed so often as we kneel down, that the inward submission of the heart be answerable to the ceremony, that it be not vain and false.

40 When they were all put forth. When as he taketh a time to pray, he seemeth as yet to doubt, what will be the ende. When he healed Aeneas he brake out into these wordes without making any stoppe, Aeneas, Iesus Christ make thee whole. But as the operation of the Spirite is not alwaies alike and the same, it may be that though he knew the power of God, yet he went forward vnto the myracle by degrees. Yet it seemeth to be an absurde thing, that he putteth all the Saintes out of the chamber, for whom it had bene better to haue seene it with their eyes, but because the Lorde had not as yet reuealed the time when, and the manner how he would shew forth his power, hee desireth to bee alone, that he might the more fitly pray. Also it might be that he knew some other reason which moued him to doe this, which we know not. It is recorded in the sacred history that Eliseus did the same: