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…

32 We preach to you glad tidings. He doth now challenge to himself the office and honour of an Apostle, that he may be heard as a lawful minister of God. And he saith the sum of the Embassy enjoined him, is, that that is revealed & given in their time which was promised in times past. And in few words doeth he comprehend many & great matters. First, he giveth them to understand that he bringeth in nothing which is new or contrary to the law and prophets, but that he did reveal the fulfilling of that doctrine which they themselves did confess and were persuaded to have been delivered by God. Whereupon it followeth that they cannot refuse that which he offereth them, but they shall break the covenant made with the fathers by God, so much as in them shall lie: secondly, he commendeth the faithfulness of God, because it doth now in very deed appear, that there was nothing promised in times past unadvisedly or in vain: but he doth chiefly extol the greatness of the grace given at length in Christ. For we must note the comparison between them and the fathers, when he sayeth, that they had gotten that which was promised to the fathers. For the more liberally the grace of God is poured out upon them, the more filthy shall their unthankfulness be, if they shall despise or loath that unestimable good thing. For what else were this, but to cast down at their feet a treasure even reached out to them that they might take hold thereof, and so consequently laid in their lap, the hope whereof was reverently embraced by the father when it was showed them a far off, and which they did foster during their whole life? But some man may ask this question concerning those who lived under the law, whether even they were not made partakers of the promises? I answer, that there is such a society of the same grace among us which doth not hinder the long distance. But this was Paul his meaning, that their faith stood as it were in doubt, ⟨p. 312⟩until Christ appeared, in whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen:¹ as he teacheth, 2. Cor. 1. Therefore we be the heirs of the same kingdom of heaven, and partakers of the same spiritual good things, which God bestoweth upon his children: also God gave to them some taste of his love in this life, as we taste him now.