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…

38 Therefore be it known unto you. After that he hath declared the mean whereby salvation is purchased through Christ, he doth now entreat of his office and power. And this is the principal point, to know what good things we have by the coming of Christ, and what we are to hope for at his hands. And although Luke setteth down in a word that Paul preached of the benefits of Christ: yet there is no cause why any man should doubt but that so great matters were handled weightily and only according as their dignity did require. By this word Be it known unto you, Paul meaneth that nothing should hinder them from knowing such an excellent & plain matter save only sloth: & that therefore it was an absurd thing that those benefits of God should be hidden from the faithful, which were offered by Christ. For he was sent with the shrill preaching of the Gospel, which our faith ought to hear, that it may enter into the sure possession of his good things. For we must know what he is that we may enjoy him truly. Forgiveness of sins is set first, whereby God doth reconcile us unto himself. That which God will have preached to all his people, doeth he show to be necessary for all men. For Paul speaketh not to one or two, but to all the Jews which were at Antioch. Therefore we must first mark that we be all enemies to God through sins 2. Chapt. Collos. Whereupon it followeth that we are all excluded from the kingdom of God, and are given over to eternal death, until God receive us to favour by the free forgiveness of sins. We must also note this, that God doth pardon to us our sins, and that he is reconciled through the Mediator, because like as without him there is no satisfaction, so neither is there any pardon or forgiveness of guiltiness. These be principles of our faith which are not learned in the schools of the Philosophers, That all mankind is condemned, and drowned in sin, that there is in us no righteousness which is able to reconcile us to God: that the only hope of salvation resteth in his mercy, whiles that he doth freely forgive us: and that those remain under the gilt, which fly not unto Christ, and seek not forgiveness in his death.

38 Therefore be it knowne vnto you. After that he hath declared the meane whereby saluation is purchased through Christ, he doth now intreat of his office and power. And this is the principall point, to know what good things we haue by the comming of Christ, and what we are to hope for at his hands. And although Luke setteth downe in a worde that Paul preached of the benefits of Christ: yet there is no cause why any man should doubt but that so great matters were handled weightily and onely according as their dignitie did require. By this word Be it knowne vnto you, Paul meaneth that nothing should hinder them from knowing such an excellent & plain matter saue only sloth: & that therefore it was an absurd thing that those benifits of God should be hidden from the faithfull, which were offered by Christ. For he was sent with the shrill preaching of the Gospel, which our faith ought to heare, that it may enter into the sure possession of his good things. For we must know what he is that we may inioy him truely. Forgiuenes of sinnes is set first, whereby God doth reconcile vs vnto himself. That which God will haue preached to all his people, doeth he shewe to be necessarie for all men. For Paul speaketh not to one or two, but to all the Iewes which were at Antioch. Therefore we must first marke that we be all enimies to God through sinnes 2. Chapt. Collos. Whereupon it followeth that we are all excluded from the kingdome of God, and are giuen ouer to eternall death, vntill God receiue vs to fauour by the free forgiuenesse of sinnes. We must also note this, that God doth pardon to vs our sinnes, and that he is reconciled through the Mediator, because like as without him there is no satisfaction, so neither is there any pardon or forgiuenesse of guiltines. These be principles of our faith which are not learned in the schooles of the Philosophers, That all mankinde is condemned, and drowned in sinne, that there is in vs no righteousnes which is able to reconcile vs to God: that the onely hope of saluation resteth in his mercie, whiles that he doth freely forgiue vs: and that those remaine vnder the gilt, which flie not vnto Christ, and seeke not forgiuenesse in his death.