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…

16 And Paul rose, and when he had given a token of silence with the hand, he said: Men and brethren, which fear God, hear. 17 The God of this people did choose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were strangers in the land of Egypt: and he brought them thence with an high arm. 18 And about forty years he suffered their manners in the wilderness. 19 And having destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance. 20 After these things about four hundred and fifty years, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Afterward they required a king, and God gave them Saul, the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, forty years. 22 And when he had taken him away, he raised up to them David to be king, of whom bearing witness, he said: I have found David the son of Jesse, a man according to my heart, who shall do all my will. 23 Of whose seed God according to promise raised to Israel the saviour Jesus.

16 And Paul rose, and when he had giuen a token of silence with the hande, hee said: Men and brethren, which feare God, heare. 17 The God of this people did choose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were strangers in the land of Egypt: and hee brought them thence with an high arme. 18 And about fortie yeeres hee suffered their maners in the wildernesse. 19 And hauing destroyed seuen nations in the land of Chanaan, he gaue them their land for an inheritance. 20 After these things about foure hundred and fiftie yeeres, he gaue them iudges vntill Samuel the prophet. 21 Afterward they required a king, and God gaue them Saul, the sonne of Cis, a man of the tribe of Beniamin, fortie yeeres. 22 And when he had taken him away, he raised vp to them Dauid to bee king, of whom bearing witnesse, hee said: I haue found Dauid the sonne of Iesse, a man according to my heart, who shall doe all my will. 23 Of whose seed God according to promise raised to Israel the sauiour Iesus.

16 We must first note the state of this sermon, least we think that he uttered words in vain, Paul seemeth in deed to begin even at the very first beginning, but he speaketh nothing but that which is most convenient for the present purpose. His purpose is to bring the Jews unto the faith of Christ, and that he may the better do this, it is needful to declare, that they excel other nations in this one thing, because the saviour was promised them: whose kingdom is their principal and only felicity. This is therefore Paul his beginning, that whereas they were chosen in times past to be the peculiar people of God: whereas they had so many benefits bestowed upon them from time to time, though they showed themselves most unworthy, this did depend upon the promise of the Messiah, and did tend to that end, that God might govern them by the hand of the Messiah: and that therefore they have nothing whereof they may boast, unless they be gathered under their head. Yea that unless they receive him when he is offered, the covenant of life which God had made with their fathers shall be void, and the adoption shall be frustrate. This is the drift of the first part of the sermon, that this is the principal point of the law and the foundation of Gods covenant, that they have Christ for their captain and governor, that he may restore all things among them: that without him religion cannot stand, and