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…

Of this free love of God Moses doth oftentimes put the Jews in mind: as Deut. 4.7.10.14.32. and in other places:¹ wherein god did set before us a mirror of his wonderful counsel: in that finding no excellency in Abraham, an obscure person and miserable idolater, he doth notwithstanding prefer him before all the world. Furthermore this election was common to all people, as was also circumcision, whereby god did adopt to himself the seed of Abraham: but there was also a more hidden election, whereby severing to himself a few of many children of Abraham, he did declare that not all who came of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, are reckoned in the spiritual stock.

Of this free loue of God Moses doth oftententimes put the Iewes in minde: as Deut. 4.7.10.14.32. and in other places:¹ wherein god did set before vs a mirrour of his wonderfull counsell: in that finding no excellencie in Abraham, an obscure person and miserable idolatrer, hee doth notwithstanding preferre him before all the worlde. Furthermore this election was common to all people, as was also circumcision, whereby god did adopt to himself the seed of Abraham: but there was also a more hidden election, whereby seuering to himselfe a fewe of many children of Abraham, he did declare that not all who came of the seede of Abraham according to the flesh, are reckoned in the spirituall stock.

1. 1Deut. 4.34. and 7.8.

He did drive out a people. Paul teacheth that all those benefits which god bestowed afterward upon the Jews, did proceed and flow from that free favour which he did bear toward their fathers. For this was the cause that they were delivered by the wonderful power of god, & brought by his hand into the possession of the land of Canaan, after that he had driven out so many nations for their sake. For it is no small matter for the land to be deprived of her inhabitors, that she might receive strangers. This is the fountain and root of all good things, whereunto Paul calleth us, that god chose the fathers. This was the reason & cause which moved god to so great patience, that he would not cast off that rebellious people, who should otherwise have destroyed themselves a thousand times with their own wickedness. Therefore where the scripture maketh mention that their sins were pardoned, it saith, that god remembered his covenant. He saith that they were exalted, though they were strangers, that they may remember how worthy & gorgeous their deliverance was.