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…

I answer that the cause of this difference, ought not to be sought in the persons of men: but it doth wholly depend upon the hidden counsel of God. For in that he rather adopted Abraham, that with him he might make his covenant, then the Egyptians, he did not this being moved with any external respect, but all the whole cause remained in his wonderful counsel. Therefore God was never tied to persons. Notwithstanding the doubt is not as yet dissolved: because it cannot be denied, but that circumcision did please God, so that he counted him one of his people, who had that token of sanctification. But we may easily answer this also, That circumcision followed after the grace of god, forasmuch as it was a seal thereof. Whereupon it followeth that it was no cause thereof. Nevertheless it was unto the Jews a pledge of free adoption in such sort, that uncircumcision did not hinder God, but that he might admit what ⟨p. 254⟩Gentiles he would, unto the society of the same salvation. But the coming of Christ had this new and especial thing, that after that the wall of separation was pulled down, God did embrace the whole world generally. And this do the words in every nation import. For so long as Abraham's seed was the holy inheritance of God,¹ the Gentiles might seem to be quite banished from his kingdom. But when Christ was given to be a light of the Gentiles, the covenant of eternal life, began to be common to all alike.

I aunswere that the cause of this difference, ought not to be sought in the persons of men: but it doth wholly depende vpon the hidden counsel of God. For in that he rather adopted Abraham, that with him hee might make his couenant, then the Aegyptians, he did not this being moued with any external respect, but all the whole cause remained in his wonderfull counsell. Therefore God was neuer tyed to persons. Notwithstanding the doubte is not as yet dissolued: because it cannot be denied, but that circumcision did please God, so that he counted him one of his people, who had that token of sanctification. But we may easily answere this also, That circumcision followed after the grace of god, forasmuch as it was a seale thereof. Whereuppon it followeth that it was no cause thereof. Neuerthelesse it was vnto the Iewes a pledge of free adoption in such sort, that vncircumcision did not hinder God, but that hee might admitte what ⟨p. 254⟩