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…

1 And the Apostles. Whereas Luke declareth that the fame of one house which was converted, was spread abroad every where amongest the brethren, that did arise by reason of admiration: for the Jews accounted it as a monster, that the Gentiles should be gathered unto them, as if they should have heard that there had been men made of stones: again the immoderate love of their nation did hinder them from acknowledging the work of god. For we see that through this ambition and pride, the Church was troubled: because the equality which did diminish their dignity was not tolerable. For which cause they did contend stoutly, to bring the necks of the Gentiles under the yoke. But for as much as it was foretold by so many prophesies of the prophets, that the church should be gathered of all people after the coming of the Messiah, and forasmuch as Christ had given commandment to his Apostles, touching the preaching of the gospel throughout the whole world, how can it be that the conversion of a few men should move some, as some strange thing, and should terrify other some, as if it were some monster? I answer, that whatsoever was foretold touching the calling of the Gē tiles, it was so taken, as if the gentiles should be made subject to the law of Moses, that they might have a place in the church. But the manner of the calling, the beginning whereof they saw then, was not only unknown, but it seemed to be quite contrary to reason. For they did dream that it was unpossible that the Gentiles could be mixed with the sons of Abraham, and be made one body with them, (the ceremonies being taken away) but that there should be great injury done to the covenant of God, for to what end served the law save only to be the mid wall to note out the disagreement? Secondly because they were acquainted with that difference during their whole life, the unlooked for newness of the thing doth so pierce them, that they did forget all that which ought to have quieted their minds: finally they do not straightway comprehend the mystery, which as Paul teacheth, was unknown to the Angels from the creation of the world.

1 And the Apostles. Whereas Luke declareth that the fame of one house which was conuerted, was spread abroade euery where amongest the brethren, that did arise by reason of admiration: for the Iewes accounted it as a monster, that the Gentiles should be gathered vnto thē, as if they should haue heard that there had been men made of stones: again the immoderate loue of their nation did hinder them frō acknowledging the worke of god. For wee see that through this ambition and pride, the Church was troubled: because the equalitie which did diminish their dignitie was not tollerable. For which cause they did contend stoutly, to bring the necks of the Gentiles vnder the yoke. But for as much as it was foretolde by so many prophesies of the prophets, that the church should be gathered of all people after the comming of the Messias, and forasmuch as Christ had giuē commandement to his Apostles, touching the preaching of the gospel throughout the whole world, how can it be that the conuersion of a fewe men shoulde moue some, as some strange thing, and should terrifie other some, as if it were some monster? I answere, that whatsoeuer was foretold touching the calling of the Gē tiles, it was so taken, as if the gentiles shoulde bee made subiect to the law of Moses, that they might haue a place in the church. But the manner of the calling, the beginning whereof they saw then, was not onely vnknowen, but it seemed to bee quite contrary to reason. For they did dreame that it was vnpossible that the Gentiles could bee mixed with the sonnes of Abraham, and be made one bodie with them, (the ceremonies being taken away) but that there should bee great iniurie done to the couenant of God, for to what end serued the law saue only to bee the myd wal to note out the disagreement? Secondly because they were acquainted with that difference during their whole life, the vnloked for newnesse of the thing doth so pearce them, that they did forget all that which ought to haue quieted their minds: finally they do not straightway comprehend the mysterie, which as Paul teacheth, was vnknowen to the Angels from the creation of the world.