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…

1 Luke passeth over now unto a worthy history: to wit, that God vouchsafed to advance a stranger, and one uncircumcised unto singular honour above all the Jews: because he doth both send his angel unto him, and for his sake bringeth Peter to Caesarea, that he may instruct him in the Gospel. But first of all Luke showeth what manner person this Cornelius was, for whose cause an angel descended from heaven, and God spake to Peter in a vision. He was a captain of the Italian band. A band did consist upon a thousand footmen, & he which was chief captain, was called a Tribune or Marshal. Again, every hundred had a captain. A legion had for the most part five bands. That band was called the Italian band, because the Romans did choose soldiers oftentimes from amongst those which dwelt in the provinces, but they had the strength of the army out of Italy. Therefore Cornelius was an Italian borne. But he lived at Caesarea with his hundred, to guard the city. For the Romans were wont so to distribute their places of abode: that every city of renown might have a garrison to stay sudden uproars. A rare example that a soldier was so devout toward God, so upright and courteous toward men. For at that time the Italians, when as they were carried into the provinces to live in warfare, ran to and fro like hungry wolves to get some pray: they had for the most part no more religion than beasts: they had as great care of innocency as cutthroats. For which cause the virtues of Cornelius deserve the greater commendation, in that leading a soldiers life which was at that time most corrupt: he served God holily, and lived amongest men without doing any hurt or injury. And this is no small amplification of his praise, in that casting away superstition wherein he was borne and brought up, he embraced the pure worship of God. For we know what account the Italians made of themselves, and how proudly they despised others. And the Jews were at that time in such contempt, that for their sakes pure religion was counted infamous, & almost execrable. Seeing that none of these things could hinder Cornelius, but that forsaking his Idols, he did embrace the true worship of the true God alone: it must needs be that he was endued with rare and singular sincerity.

1 Luke passeth ouer now vnto a worthie historie: to wit, that God vouchsafed to aduaunce a straunger, and one vncircumcised vnto singular honour aboue all the Iewes: because he doth both send his angel vnto him, and for his sake bringeth Peter to Cesarea, that he may instruct him in the Gospel. But first of all Luke sheweth what maner person this Cornelius was, for whose cause an angel descended from heauen, and God spake to Peter in a vision. He was a captaine of the Italian band. A band did consist vpon a thousand footemen, & he which was chief captaine, was called a Tribune or Marshal. Againe, euery hundreth had a captaine. A legion had for the most part fiue bands. That band was called the Italian bande, because the Romanes did choose souldiers oftentimes from amongst those which dwelt in the prouinces, but they had the strength of the armie out of Italie. Therefore Cornelius was an Italian borne. But he liued at Cesarea with his hundred, to gard the citie. For the Romanes were woont so to distribute their places of aboade: that euery citie of renowme might haue a garrison to stay sodaine vprores. A rare example that a souldier was so deuout toward God, so vpright and courteous toward men. For at that time the Italians, when as they were carried into the prouinces to liue in warfare, ranne to and fro like hungrie wolues to get som pray: they had for the most part no more religion than beasts: they had as great care of innocencie as cutthrotes. For which cause the vertues of Cornelius deserue the greater commendation, in that leading a souldiars life which was at that time most corrupt: he serued God holily, and liued amongest men without doing any hurt or iniurie. And this is no small amplification of his praise, in that casting away superstition wherein he was borne and brought vp, he embraced the pure worship of God. For wee know what account the Italians made of themselues, and how proudly they despised others. And the Iewes were at that time in such contempt, that for their sakes pure religiō was coūted infamous, & almost execrable. Seing that none of these thinges could hinder Cornelius, but that forsaking his Idols, he did imbrace the true worship of the true God alone: it must needes be that he was endued with rare and singular sinceritie.