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…

It was necessary. He accuseth them of unthankfulness, because whereas they were chosen by God out of all people, that Christ might offer himself unto them, they refuse so great a benefit maliciously. And in the former member he setteth down the degree of honour and excellency whereunto God had exalted them: afterward followeth the upbraiding, because they do willingly cast from them so great grace: whereupon he concludeth that it is now time that the gospel be translated unto the gentiles. In that he saith that it was meet that it should first be preached to them, it doth properly appertain unto the time of Christ his kingdom. For under the Law before Christ was given, the Jews were not only the first, but alone.¹ Therefore was it that Moses called them a priestly kingdom, and the peculiar people of God. But the adoption of God rested then with them alone upon this condition (the Gentiles being omitted) that they should be preferred as yet before the gentiles by the coming of Christ. For though Christ reconciled the world to his father, yet they were former in order, who were already near unto god, & of his family. Therefore that was the most lawful order,² that the Apostles should gather the Church first of the Jews, afterward of the Gentiles, as we saw in the first Chapter and in other places, so that the fellowship of the Gentiles did not take from the Jews the right of the first begotten, but that they were always the chief in the Church of God. In this respect Paul sayeth, that the righteousness of God is made manifest in the Gospel, first to the Jews than to the Grecians.

It was necessarie. He accuseth them of vnthankfulnes, because whereas they were chosen by God out of all people, that Christ might offer himself vnto them, they refuse so great a benefit maliciously. And in the former member he setteth downe the degree of honor and excellencie wherunto God had exalted them: afterward followeth the vpbraiding, because they do willingly cast from them so great grace: whereupon he cōcludeth that it is now time that the gospel be translated vnto the gentiles. In that he saith that it was meete that it should first be preached to them, it doth properly appertaine vnto the time of Christ his kingdome. For vnder the Law before Christ was giuen, the Iewes were not only the first, but alone.¹