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…

The Spirit said. Whatsoever Macedonius and his sect object that they may turn their backs, yet we have a more plain and sound testimony of the divine essence of the spirit in this place, than that they can escape it and make it frustrate. There is nothing more proper to god, than with his power and commandment to govern the Church alone. But the Spirit challengeth this right, when he commandeth that Paul & Barnabas be separated to him, and testifieth that they were called by his beck. Assuredly we must needs confess that the body of the Church is lame and without a head, unless we confess that it is God who ordereth the same at his pleasure, who setteth teachers over it, who governeth the proceedings and order thereof. We shall have afterward Chapter 20. in Pauls sermon, that all Bishops are placed by the holy Ghost, which govern the Church.¹ But no man is to be counted a lawful Pastor of the Church, as the same Paul witnesseth, save he which is called of God: Neither doth God point out false Prophets by any other mark, save only by this, that he hath not sent them. Therefore we gather that the holy Ghost is God in deed, whose authority is sufficient to choose Pastors, and who hath the chief rule in choosing them. Which is likewise confirmed out of the words of Isaiah:² And now behold the Lord hath sent me, and his Spirit. Furthermore we must note out of these words, that he is a person truly subsisting in God. For if we admit Sabellius his invention, that the word Spirit importeth no person, but that it is a bare adjunct, that shall be a foolish and absurd speech, that the holy Ghost hath said: Isaiah also should foolishly ascribe to him the sending of a Prophet.

The Spirit said. Whatsoeuer Macedonius and his sect obiect that they may turne their backs, yet we haue a more plaine and sound testimony of the diuine essense of the spirit in this place, than that they can escape it and make it frustrate. There is nothing more proper to god, than with his power and commandement to gouerne the Church alone. But the Spirit chalengeth this right, when he commandeth that Paul & Barnabas be seperated to him, and testifieth that they were called by his beck. Assuredly we must needs confesse that the bodie of the Church is lame and without a head, vnlesse we confesse that it is God who ordereth the same at his pleasure, who setteth teachers ouer it, who gouerneth the proceedings and order thereof. We shall haue afterward Chapter 20. in Pauls sermon, that all Bishops are placed by the holy Ghost, which gouerne the Church.