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…

A man stood in shining garment. He calleth him a man, who he knew was an Angel of God, but it is a common thing for the name of the visible form wherein God or his Angels appear, to be translated unto him or them. So Moses doth sometimes call them Angels, & sometimes men, which appeared to Abraham in shape of men. The shining garment was a token of heavenly glory, and as it were a sign of the divine majesty which appeared in the Angel. The Evangelists declare that there was such brightness in Christs garment, when he showed his glory to the three disciples in the mount. The same thing do they witness of the Angels which were sent to testify Christs resurrection. For as the Lord beareth with our infirmity, thus far that he commandeth his Angels to descend under form of our flesh, so he casteth out upon them certain beams of his glory, that the commandments which he hath committed to them, may be the more reverenced and believed. Here ariseth a question, whether that were a true and natural body, & whether that were a garment in deed, or Cornelius did only see such a shape and show. And though this be not so necessary to be known, and we can scarce affirm any thing for a truth: yet it seemeth to me more probable as touching conjecture, that God to whom it belongeth to create all things, gave to the Angel a true body, and did clothe the same with a most gorgeous garment. But so soon as the Angel had ended his embassage, I think he was restored to his own nature, the body and garment being brought to nought: and that he suffered no humane thing, so long as he was in the shape of man.

A man stoode in shining garment. Hee calleth him a man, who he knew was an Angel of God, but it is a common thing for the name of the visible forme wherein God or his Angels appeare, to bee translated vnto him or them. So Moses doth sometimes cal them Angels, & sometimes men, which appeared to Abraham in shape of men. The shining garment was a token of heauenly glory, and as it were a signe of the diuine maiesty which appeared in the Angel. The Euangilistes declare that there was such brightnes in Christs garment, when he shewed his glory to the three disciples in the mount. The same thing do they witnesse of the Angels which were sent to testifie Christes resurrection. For as the Lord beareth with our infirmitie, thus farre that hee commaundeth his Angels to descend vnder forme of our flesh, so he casteth out vpon them certaine beames of his glory, that the commandements which he hath committed to them, may be the more reuerenced and beleeued. Heere ariseth a question, whether that were a true and naturall bodie, & whether that were a garment in deed, or Cornelius did only see such a shape and shew. And though this be not so necessarie to bee knowne, and wee can scarse affirme any thing for a truth: yet it seemeth to me more probable as touching coniecture, that God to whom it belongeth to create all things, gaue to the Angel a true body, and did cloath the same with a most gorgeous garment. But so soone as the Angel had ended his imbassage, I thinke he was restored to his owne nature, the body and garment being brought to nought: and that hee suffered no humane thing, so long as he was in the shape of man.