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…

Men and brethren, Because Paul knew that there were many bastardly sons of Abraham, or such as were grown out of kind, he calleth the Jews to whom he speaketh by a double name. First he calleth them brethren, having respect unto common kindred, notwithstanding he showeth therewithal that they shall be true Israelites, if they fear God, & that even then they are likewise true hearers, because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. In like sort he maketh the faithful attentive, and purchaseth audience among them: as if he should say, Seeing many boast that they are sons of Abraham, who were unworthy of such honour, show your selves to be no bastardly seed. Let us learn by this that it is not a fault common to one age only, that good and sincere worshippers being mixed with hypocrites have the name of the church common among them. But we must have a great care hereof, that we be in deed, that which we are called: which thing the true fear of Almighty GOD will bring to pass: and not the external profession alone.

Men and brethren, Because Paul knew that there were many bastardlie sonnes of Abraham, or such as wer growen out of kind, he calleth the Iewes to whom he speaketh by a double name. First he calleth them brethren, hauing respect vnto common kinred, notwithstanding he sheweth therewithall that they shal be true Israelites, if they feare God, & that euen then they are likewise true hearers, because the feare of the Lorde is the beginning of wisdome. In like sort hee maketh the faithfull attentiue, and purchaseth audience among them: as if he should say, Seeing many boast that they are sonnes of Abrahā, who were vnworthie of such honour, shew your selues to be no bastardly seede. Let vs learne by this that it is not a fault common to one age onely, that good and sincere worshippers being mixed with hypocrites haue the name of the church common among them. But we must haue a great care hereof, that wee be in deed, that which wee are called: which thing the true feare of Almightie GOD will bring to passe: and not the externall profession alone.

17. The God of this people. This preface did witness that Paul did go about no new thing, which might lead away the people from the law of Moses. There is but one God who is God of all nations: but he calleth him God of that people, to whom he had bound himself, & who was worshipped amongst the posterity of Abraham, amongst whom alone true and pure religion was to be found. To the same end tendeth that which is added immediately, He chose our fathers. For he testifieth by these words, that he seeketh nothing less, then that they may fall away from the true and living God, who hath separated them from the residue of the world. Neither do I doubt, but that he did more manifestly express that he did not preach to them an unknown or strange God: but the same who revealed himself long ago to their fathers: so that he doth briefly comprehend the sound knowledge of god grounded in the law, that their faith conceived out of the law & prophets may continue firm. Notwithstanding he doth in the mean season commend and set forth the free love of God toward that people. For how came it to pass that only the children of Abraham were the church and inheritance of God, save only because it pleased God to dissever them from other nations? For there was no worthiness to distinguish them but the difference began at the love of God, wherewith he did freely love Abraham.