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…

For that was not done by mans industry, but God showed from heaven the invincible power of his hand, whereby it might plainly appear that he reigned according to Gods counsel. Therefore this Begetting by him mentioned, must be referred unto the understanding or knowledge of men: to wit, because it was then openly known that he was begotten of God, when as he was set upon the throne of the kingdom wonderfully, contrary to the hope of all men, and did by the heavenly power of the Spirit break infinite conspiracies: because he could not reign, until he had brought all nations round about him in subjection, ⟨p. 314⟩as if a certain world were subdued. Now let us come unto Christ. He came not into the world without testimony, whereby he did prove that he was the son of God. For his glory did appear, as became the only begotten son of god, as it is written John. 1.14. and he saith everywhere that he hath God for the witness and maintainer of this honour. Therefore God begat Christ, when he gave him certain marks, whereby he might be known to be his true & lively image & son. And yet this doth not let, but that Christ is the wisdom, begotten of the eternal father before time, but that is the secret generation: & now David declareth that it was revealed to men: so that the relation is as we have said, unto men and not unto God: because that which was hidden in the heart of God, was made known to men. And it is a very fine figure, because Christ his divinity was no less declared and established, then if he had bin begotten of God before the eyes of men. I know that Augustine his deep sight doth please some, that by to day is meant perpetuity. But when as the spirit of God himself is his own interpreter, & whereas he doth expound that by the mouth of Paul which he had said by David, we must not invent any other sense. And forasmuch (as the same Paul doth witness) that Christ was declared to be the son of god in power, when he rose from the dead, we gather that this was the principal token of celestial excellency, & that the father did then bring him truly to light, that the world might know that he was begotten of him. Therefore though God began to raise Christ when he came into the world, yet his raising was then as it were perfect & full:

For that was not done by mans industrie, but God shewed from heauen the inuincible power of his hand, whereby it might plainly appeare that he reigned according to Gods counsel. Therefore this Begetting by him mentioned, must be referred vnto the vnderstanding or knowledge of men: to wit, because it was then openlie known that he was begotten of God, when as he was set vpon the throne of the kingdome wonderfully, contrarie to the hope of all men, and did by the heauenly power of the Spirit breake infinit conspiracies: because hee could not reigne, vntill he had brought all nations round about him in subiection,