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…

25 Falling down at his feet, he worshipped. Here is the word prosecunesen, which signifieth to testify honour or worship, either by bowing the knee, or ducking down the head, or by any other gesture. Now the question is whether Peter refuseth this worship for modesties sake only, or he disalloweth it as a thing altogether unlawful? It appeareth that Cornelius his fact displeased Peter, by the reason which is by and by added: Arise, for even I am a man. For we may gather that there was some divine thing in that worship, because he did ascribe unto mortal man the honour which is due to God alone. But we must not think that Cornelius did count Peter in steed of God. For if he translated Gods honour unto mortal man, where is that godliness and religion, with the title whereof he was of late adorned? Therefore I think that he meant nothing less then to spoil God of his lawful worship, that he might give it to man, but forasmuch as he meant to give singular honour unto the prophet and Apostle of Christ, he fell into an immoderate token of reverence, and so he offended in excess. For it can scarce be expressed in words, how prone men are to fall to superstition, when as that honour is given to the ministers of Christ, which hath any small show of divine worship. For we fall easily unawares into that, whereof we thought full little. There were less danger in a king or in the chief chieftains of this world. For he which falleth down before a king, keepeth himself within the bounds of earthly and civill honour: but the case standeth otherwise in the ministers of Christ. For as their office is spiritual, so if any man fall down at their feet, to worship them, this honour hath in it some spiritual thing. For we must put a difference between civill worship which men use among themselves in respect of civill order, and that under which is contained religion, or which respecteth directly the honour of God: as also between laws which are made for temporal regiment, or which bind the conscience. For certain foolish men are deceived too far, who think that kneeling is in this place condemned simply and of it self. But this is that which I said: Cornelius doth not here salute his Proconsul or the Emperor after any civill sort:

25 Falling downe at his feete, he worshipped. Here is the worde prosecunesen, which signifieth to testifie honour or worship, either by bowing the knee, or ducking downe the head, or by any other gesture. Nowe the question is whether Peter refuseth this worship for modesties sake only, or he disaloweth it as a thing altogether vnlawfull? It appeareth that Cornelius his fact displeased Peter, by the reason which is by and by added: Arise, for euen I am a man. For we may gather that there was some diuine thing in that worship, because hee did ascribe vnto mortall man the honour which is due to God alone. But we must not think that Cornelius did count Peter in steed of God. For if he translated Gods honor vnto mortall man, where is that godlinesse and religion, with the title whereof he was of late adourned? Therefore I thinke that he meant nothing lesse then to spoyle God of his lawfull worship, that he might giue it to man, but forasmuch as he meant to giue singular honour vnto the prophet and Apostle of Christ, hee fell into an immoderate token of reuerence, and so he offended in excesse. For it can scarce bee expressed in wordes, how prone men are to fall to superstition, when as that honour is giuen to the ministers of Christ, which hath any small shew of diuine worshippe. For we fall easily vnwares into that, whereof we thought full little. There were lesse daunger in a king or in the chiefe chieftanes of this worlde. For he which falleth downe before a king, keepeth himselfe within the boundes of earthly and ciuill honour: but the case standeth otherwise in the ministers of Christ. For as their office is spirituall, so if any man fall downe at their feete, to worship them, this honour hath in it some spirituall thing. For wee must put a difference betweene ciuill worship which men vse among themselues in respect of ciuill order, and that vnder which is contained religion, or which respecteth directlye the honour of God: as also between lawes which are made for temporall regiment, or which binde the conscience. For certaine foolish men are deceiued too farre, who think that kneeling is in this place condemned simplie and of it selfe. But this is that which I said: Cornelius doth not heere salute his Proconsull or the Emperour after any ciuill sorte: