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…

34 Opening his mouth. We have already said that the Scripture useth this phrase, when it doth signify that there was any grave or weighty oration or speech made. In the fifth of Matthew it is said that Jesus opened his mouth,¹ when he would preach to his disciples, and entreat of most weighty matters: as if a man should say in Latin, He began to speak, having first well bethought himself what he would speak.

34 Opening his mouth. We haue already saide that the Scripture vseth this phrase, when it doth signifie that there was any graue or weightie oration or speech made. In the fift of Mathew it is said that Iesus opened his mouth,¹ when he would preach to his disciples, and intreate of most weighty matters: as if a man should say in Latine, He began to speak, hauing first well bethought himselfe what he would speake.

1. 1Math. 5.1.

In truth I find. Catalamuanesthai is to apprehend, or to gather by reasons, signs and conjectures. Cornelius was a Gentile borne: yet God heareth his prayers, he vouchsafeth to show him the light of the Gospel, he appointed and sendeth an Angel to him particularly: thereby doth Peter know, that without respect of persons those do please God, which live godlily and innocently. For before (being wholly possest with this prejudice, that the Jews alone were beloved of God, as they alone were chosen out of all people) he did not think that the grace of god could come unto others. He was not so gross, that he thought that godliness & innocency of life were condemned, because they were in a man that was a Gentile: but seeing he did simply snatch at that, that all those were estranged from the kingdom of God and were profane which were uncircumcised, he entangled himself unawares in that so filthy an error, that God did despise his pure worship and an holy life, where there was no circumcision, because uncircumcision made all virtues unsavoury to the Jews. By which example we are taught, how greatly we ought to beware of prejudices, which make us oftentimes judge amiss. Furthermore we must note what the word person doeth signify: because many are thereby deceived, whiles that they expound it generally, that one man is not preferred before another. So Pelagius denied in times past that some are chosen and some are proved of God: because God did not accept persons. But by this word we must understand the external state or appearance as they call it: and whatsoever is about man himself, which doeth either bring him in favour, or cause him to be hated: riches, nobility, multitude of servants, honour do make a man to be in great favour: poverty, baseness of linage, & such like things make him to be despised. In this respect, the Lord doth oftentimes forbid the accepting of persons: because men cannot judge aright, so often as external respects do lead them away from the matter. In this place it is referred unto the nation: and the meaning is: that uncircumcision is no let, but that God may allow righteousness in a man that is a Gentile. But it shall seem by this means that God did respect persons for a time. For when as he did choose the Jews to be his people, passing over the Gentiles, did he not respect persons?