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…

The old interpreter distinguisheth it otherwise, and certain Greek copies agree thereto: to wit, that David served the will of God in his time. Which reading though it be to be allowed, yet it doth not cause me to mislike the other. For it is neither superfluous nor cold, that he slept by the will of God or the counsel of God: because the meaning thereof is, that God in the death of David did not forget that prophecy: as if he should say that the body of David laid in the grave not without the counsel or purpose of God, until it should rise again, that the effect of the prophecy might be extended unto Christ. If no man mislike that which I say, we are taught hereby to what end men live in the world, to wit, that one man may help another. For every man doth not live neither is born for himself, but mankind is knit together with an holy knot. Therefore unless we be disposed to overthrow the laws of nature, let us remember that we must not live for our selves, but for our neighbours. But here may a question be asked whether we ought not also to care for our posterity? I answer that the ministry of the godly is also profitable for the posterity: as we see that David being dead doth profit us more at this day, then a great part of those which live with us: but Paul meaneth simply, that the faithful during their whole life employ themselves and their offices to help their neighbours, and that death is unto them as a goal because they have made an end then, when the Lord calleth them out of the world. The sum is, that we must have respect first to our time, that we may serve our brethren with whom, and among whom we lead our life: and secondly we must do our endeavour that the fruit of our ministry may redound unto our posterity. Seeing that God prescribeth his servants this law, their rashness cannot be excused, who feign that the dead pray for us, and that they do no less serve the Church, then whiles they lived.

The olde interpreter distinguisheth it otherwise, and certein Greek copies agree therto: to wit, that Dauid serued the wil of God in his time. Which reading though it be to be allowed, yet it dooth not cause me to mislike the other. For it is neither superfluous nor colde, that he slept by the wil of God or the counsel of God: because the meaning thereof is, that God in the death of Dauid did not forget that prophecie: as if he should saie that the bodie of Dauid laid in the graue not without the counsel or purpose of God, vntil it should rise againe, that the effect of the prophecie might be extended vnto Christ. If no man mislike that which I saie, we are taught heerby to what end men liue in the world, to wit, that one man maie help another. For euerie man doth not liue neither is born for himselfe, but mankinde is knit togither with an holie knot. Therfore vnlesse we be disposed to ouerthrow the lawes of nature, let vs remember that we must not liue for our selues, but for our neighbours. But heer maie a question be asked whether we ought not also to care for our posteritie? I answer that the ministerie of the godlie is also profitable for the posteritie: as we see that Dauid being dead doth profit vs more at this daie, then a great part of those which liue with vs: but Paul meaneth simplie, that the faithful during their whole life employ themselues and their offices to help their neighbours, and that death is vnto thē as a goale because they haue made an end then, when the Lord calleth them out of the world. The sum is, that we must haue respect first to our time, that we maie serue our brethren with whom, and among whom we lead our life: and secondlie we must do our indeuour that the fruit of our ministerie maie redound vnto our posteritie. Seing that God prescribeth his seruants this law, their rashnes cannot be excused, who faigne that the dead praie for vs, and that they doo no lesse serue the Church, then whiles they liued.