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…

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.

17. The God of this people. This preface did witnesse that Paul did goe about no new thing, which might leade away the people from the lawe of Moses. There is but one God who is God of all nations: but hee calleth him God of that people, to whom he had bound himselfe, & who was worshipped amongst the posteritie of Abraham, amongst whom alone true and pure religion was to be found. To the same ende tendeth that which is added immediately, Hee chose our fathers. For he testifieth by these wordes, that he seeketh nothing lesse, then that they may fall away from the true and liuing God, who hath seperated them from the residue of the worlde. Neither doe I doubt, but that hee did more manifestly expresse that he did not preach to them an vnknowen or strange God: but the same who reuealed himselfe long agoe to their fathers: so that he doth brieflie comprehende the sound knowledge of god grounded in the law, that their faith conceiued out of the law & prophets may continue firme. Notwithstanding he doth in the mean season commend and set foorth the free loue of God toward that people. For howe came it to passe that onely the children of Abraham were the church and inheritance of God, saue onely because it pleased God to disceuer them from other nations? For there was no worthinesse to distinguish them but the difference began at the loue of God, wherwith he did freely loue Abraham.