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…

Jesus, which is taken up into heaven. There are two members in this one sentence. The first is, that Christ was taken up into heaven, that they may not hence forth foolishly desire, to have him any longer conversant with them upon earth. The other is straightway added as a consolation, concerning his second coming. Out of these two jointly and also severally is gathered a firm, stable, and strong argument, to refute the Papists, and all other which imagine that Christ is really present in the signs of bread and wine. For when it is said that Christ is taken up into heaven: here is plainly noted the distance of place. I grant that this word heaven, is interpreted divers ways, sometime for the air, sometime for the whole connection of the spheres, sometimes for the glorious kingdom of God, where the majesty of God hath his proper seat, howsoever it doth fill the whole world. After which sort Paul doth place Christ above all heavens, because he is above all the world, and hath the chiefest room in that place of blessed immortality, because he is more excellent than all the Angels.¹ But this is no let why he may not be absent from us bodily, and that by this word heavens, there may not be signified ⟨p. 14⟩a separation from the world. Let them cavil as much as they will, it is evident that the heaven whereinto Christ was received, is opposite to the frame of the world: therefore it doth necessarily follow, that if he be in heaven, he is without the world. But first we must mark what the purpose of the Angels was: for thereby we shall more perfectly know what the words mean. The angels intent was to call back the apostles from desiring the carnal presence of Christ. For this purpose was it that they said that he should not come again, until he came to judge the world. And to this end serveth the assigning of the time, that they might not look for him in vain before that same time. Who seeth not that in these words is manifestly showed, that he was bodily absent out of the world? who seeth not that we are forbidden to desire to have him upon the earth. But they think they escape safe with that crafty answer, when as they say that then he shall come visibly: but he cometh now invisibly daily. But we are not here to dispute of his form, only the Apostles are taught, that Christ must abide in heaven, until such time as he appear at the latter day.

Iesus, which is taken vp into heauen. There are two members in this one sentence. The first is, that Christe was taken vp into heauen, that they may not hence foorth foolishly desire, to haue him any longer conuersant with them vpon earth. The other is straightway added as a consolation, concerning his second comming. Out of these two iointly and also seuerally is gathered a firm, stable, and strong argument, to refute the Papists, and all other which imagine that Christ is really present in the signes of bread and wine. For when it is said that Christ is taken vp into heauen: heere is plainely noted the distance of place. I graunt that this word heauen, is interpreted diuers waies, somtime for the ayre, sometime for the whole connexion of the spheres, somtimes for the glorious kingdome of God, where the maiestie of God hath his proper seat, howsoeuer it doth fill the whole world. After which sort Paul doth place Christ aboue all heauens, because he is aboue all the world, and hath the chiefest roome in that place of blessed immortalitie, because he is more excellent than all the Angels.