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…

3 When they had fasted and prayed. That they may obey the Oracle, they do not only send Paul and Barnabas away: but also with a solemn rite they appoint them to be the Apostles of the Gentiles. It is without question that this was a public fast. Luke said before that they were fasting, forasmuch as they were busied in their ministry: it might be that that was according to the custom, but now there is another reason. For in appointing a public fast, which used to be done in hard matters and of great importance, they provoke both themselves and others unto an earnest ferventness in prayer. For this is oftentimes added in Scripture as a help to prayer. But (it was a matter of such weight to erect the kingdom of Christ amongst the Gentiles) the teachers of Antioch do not without cause earnestly pray the Lord, that he will enable his servants. And that was not the end of their prayer, that God would by his Spirit of wisdom & discretion, govern their judgments in choosing: because all disputation or doubting concerning this matter was taken away: but that God would furnish those with the Spirit of wisdom and strength, whom he had already chosen to himself: that he would strengthen them with his power against all the invasions of Satan and the world: that he would bless their labours, that they might not be unfruitful: that he would open a gate for the new preaching of the gospel. The laying on of hands which Luke reckoneth up in the third place, was a kind of consecration, as we have said Chapter 6.¹ For the Apostles ⟨p. 294⟩retained the ceremony which was used amongst the Jews according to the old custom of the Law: as also kneeling & such rites, which were profitable to exercise godliness. In sum, this is the end why they laid their hands upon Barnabas and Paul, that the church might offer them to God, and that they might with their consent declare that this office was enjoined them by God. For the calling was properly Gods alone: but the external ordaining did belong to the Church, and that according to the heavenly Oracle.

3 When they had fasted and praied. That they may obey the Oracle, they do not onely send Paul and Barnabas away: but also with a solemn rite they appoint them to be the Apostles of the Gentiles. It is without question that this was a publike fast. Luke said before that they were fasting, forasmuch as they were busied in their ministerie: it might be that that was according to the custome, but now there is another reason. For in appointing a publike fast, which vsed to be done in hard matters and of great importance, they prouoke both themselues and others vnto an earnest feruentnesse in prayer. For this is oftentimes added in Scripture as a helpe to praier. But (it was a matter of such weight to erect the kingdome of Christ amongst the Gentiles) the teachers of Antioch do not without cause earnestly pray the Lord, that he will inable his seruants. And that was not the end of their praier, that God would by his Spirit of wisdome & discretion, gouerne their iudgments in choosing: because al disputation or doubting concerning this matter was taken away: but that God would furnish those with the Spirit of wisdome and strength, whom he had alreadie chosen to himselfe: that he would strengthen them with his power against all the inuasions of Satan and the world: that he would blesse their labors, that they might not be vnfruitful: that he would open a gate for the new preaching of the gospel. The laying on of hands which Luke reckneth vp in the third place, was a kinde of consecration, as we haue said Chapter 6.