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…

Speaking to none. Peradventure they were letted not only with fear of persecution, that they durst not speak to the Gentiles, but also with that foolish religion,¹ in that they thought that the children's bread was thrown to the dogs, whereas notwithstanding Christ had commanded that the gospel should be preached to all the world after his resurrection.

Speaking to none. Peraduenture they were letted not only with fear of persecutiō, that they durst not speake to the Gentiles, but also with that foolish religion,¹ in that they thought that the childrens bread was throwen to the dogs, wheras notwithstanding Christ had commanded that the gospel should be preached to all the world after his resurrection.

1. 1Mar. 16.15.

20 Luke doth at length declare that certain of them brought this treasure even unto the Gentiles. And Luke calleth these Grecians not ellenes but ellenistai. Therefore some say that those came of the Jews; yet did they inhabit Grecia, which I do not allow. For seeing the Jews whom he mentioned a little before, were partly of Cyprus, they must needs be reckoned in that number: because the Jews count Cyprus a part of Grecia. But Luke distinguisheth them from those, whom he calleth afterward ellenistas. Furthermore, forasmuch as he had said that the word was preached at the beginning only to the Jews, & he meant those who being banished out of their own country, did live in Cyprus & Phoenicia, correcting as it were this exception, he saith, that some of them did teach the Grecians. This contrariety doth cause me to expound it of the Gentiles. For Luke his meaning is, that a few did more freely preach the Gospel, because the calling of the Gentiles was not unknown to them. But the constancy of them all deserveth no small praise, because being delivered as it were out of the midst of death, they are not afraid to do their duty toward God even with danger: whence we gather to what end, & how far forth christians may fly persecution: to wit, that they may spend the residue of their life in spreading abroad the glory of God. If any man demand how it came to pass, that strangers lately coming and such as might have bin suspected among all the Jews, & hated of them, because they were banished out of Jerusalem, were so bold: I answer that this came to pass through the singular motion of God, & that they consulted together suddenly, according to the occasion offered them. For this deliberation is not of flesh and blood.