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…

And they believed. This is an exposition of the member next going before, at least in my judgement. For Luke showeth what manner glory they gave to the word of God. And here we must note the restraint when he saith that they believed, but not all in general, but those who were ordained unto life. And we need not doubt but that Luk calleth those tetagmenous, who were chosen by the free adoption of God. For it is a ridiculous cavil to refer this unto the affection of those which believed, as if those received the gospel, whose minds were well disposed. For this ordaining must be understood of the eternal counsel of God alone. Neither doth Luke say that they were ordained unto faith, but unto life: because the Lord doth predestinate his unto the inheritance of eternal life. And this place reacheth that faith dependeth upon Gods election. And assuredly seeing that all the whole race of mankind is blind and stubborn, those diseases stick fast in our nature until they be redressed by the grace of the spirit, and that redressing floweth from the fountain of election alone. For in that of two which hear the same doctrine together, the one showeth himself apt to be taught, the other continueth in his obstinacy, it is not therefore because they differ by nature: but because God doth lighten the former, and doth not vouchsafe the other the like grace. We are in deed made the children of God by faith: as faith, as touching us, is the gate and the first beginning of salvation: but there is a higher respect of God. For he doth not begin to choose us after that we believe: but he sealeth his adoption which was hidden, in our harts, by the gift of faith, that it may be manifest and sure. For if this be proper to the children of God alone, to be his disciples: it followeth that it doth not appertain unto all the children of Adam in general. No marvel therefore, if all do not receive the Gospel: because though our heavenly father inviteth all men unto the faith by the external voice of man, yet doth he not call effectually by his spirit any, save those whom he hath determined to save. Now if Gods election whereby he ordaineth us unto life be the cause of faith and salvation, there remaineth nothing for worthiness or merits. Therefore let us hold and mark that which Luke saith:

And they beleued. This is an exposition of the member next going before, at least in my iudgemēt. For Luke sheweth what maner glorie they gaue to the woord of God. And here we must note the restraint whē he saith that they beleued, but not al in general, but those who were ordeined vnto life. And we need not doubt but that Luk calleth those tetagmenous, who were chosen by the free adoption of God. For it is a ridiculous cauil to refer this vnto the affection of those which beleued, as if those receiued the gospel, whose minds were well disposed. For this ordeining must be vnderstood of the eternal counsel of God alone. Neither dooth Luke saie that they were ordeined vnto faith, but vnto life: because the Lord doth predestinate his vnto the inheritāce of eternal life. And this place reacheth that faith dependeth vpon Gods election. And assuredly seing that al the whole rase of mankinde is blinde and stubborne, those diseases sticke fast in our nature vntil they be redressed by the grace of the spirit, and that redressing floweth frō the fountain of election alone. For in that of two which heare the same doctrine togither, the one sheweth himselfe apt to be taught, the other continueth in his obstinacie, it is not therefore because they differ by nature: but because God doth lighten the former, and doth not vouchsafe the other the like grace. We are in deed made the children of God by faith: as faith, as touching vs, is the gate and the first beginning of saluation: but there is a higher respect of God. For he dooth not begin to choose vs after that we beleue: but he sealeth his adoption which was hidden, in our harts, by the gift of faith, that it may be manifest and sure. For if this be proper to the children of God alone, to be his disciples: it foloweth that it doth not apperrein vnto al the children of Adam in general. No maruel therefore, if al do not receiue the Gospel: because though our heauēlie father inuiteth al men vnto the faith by the external voice of man, yet dooth he not cal effectuallie by his spirit anie, saue those whom he hath determined to saue. Now if Gods election wherby he ordeineth vs vnto life be the cause of faith and saluatiō, there remaineth nothing for woorthinesse or merits. Therefore let vs holde and mark that which Luke saith: