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…

Furthermore, this is a place of great importance to beat down the frowardness of men, which they use too much in perverse judgements. There is no man almost which doeth not grant liberty to himself to judge of other mens doings. Now as we are churlish and malicious, we lean more toward the worse part: so that we take from God that which is his. This voice alone ought to suffice to correct such boldness, That it is not lawful for us to make this or that unclean: but that this power belongeth to God alone. And also in these words is given us to understand, that the Jews were not therefore the holy people of the Lord, because they excelled through their own worthiness, but only by reason of Gods adoption. Now after that GOD had received the Gentiles into the society of the Covenant, they have all equal right.

Furthermore, this is a place of great importance to beate downe the frowardnesse of men, which they vse too much in peruerse iudgementes. There is no man almost which doeth not graunt libertie to himselfe to iudge of other mens doings. Now as we are churlish and malicious, wee leane more toward the worse part: so that we take from God that which is his. This voice alone ought to suffice to correct such boldnesse, That it is not lawfull for vs to make this or that vncleane: but that this power belongeth to God alone. And also in these wordes is giuen vs to vnderstande, that the Iewes were not therefore the holy people of the Lord, because they excelled through their owne worthinesse, but only by reason of Gods adoption. Nowe after that GOD hadde receiued the Gentiles into the societie of the Couenaunte, they haue all equall right.

16 This was done thrice. The repetition of the vision served for the confirmation of Peter, least any doubt should remain in his mind. Whence we gather, how deeply the observing of the law was rooted in his mind. And I know no reason why God left him in a dump, until by the event which followed he might learn the cause of the vision, save only because being astonied, he did not desire to know what this thing meant. Although it was all in good time, that the messengers of Cornelius should come shortly after to interpret it. The vessel was at length taken up again into heaven, that Peter might be certified that this message came from heaven.