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…

They having prayed with fasting. They had a double end and reason of their prayer: the first that, God would direct them with the spirit of wisdom and discretion, to choose the best and most meet men. For they knew that they were not furnished with so great wisdom, but they might be deceived: neither did they so much trust to their diligence, but that they knew that the principal point did consist in the blessing of god: as we see mens judgements err daily, where the heavenly government is not: and that all their labour is nothing worth, where the hand of God is not. These be the true signs and tokens of the godly, to call upon the Spirit of God, that he may govern their counsels. And if so be it this rule be to be observed in all businesses: so often as the government of the Church is in hand, which dependeth wholly upon his will and pleasure, we must beware that we attempt nothing unless we have him for our guide and governor. And the second end of their prayer was, that God would furnish with necessary gifts those Pastors which were chosen. For it is a harder matter to fulfil such a function faithfully as a man ought, than that mans strength is sufficient for it. Therefore they crave Gods help even in this part also, having Paul and Barnabas for their authors. They fast likewise, that even that may be a help to stir up the ferventness of their prayers. For we know how great our coldness is otherwise. Not because it is always necessary that we should pray fasting, seeing that god doth invite even those who are full to give thanks: ⟨p. 347⟩but when we are urged by any necessity to pray more fervently than we use commonly to do, this is a very profitable provokement. And now we have already declared what a weighty matter the choosing of Pastors is, wherein the soundness of the Church is handled. Wherefore no marvel, if Luke write that they used extraordinary prayers. And it is profitable for us to mark this use and other of fasting, least we imagine with the Papists that it is a meritorious work: or least we place the worship of God in it, seeing it is of it self nothing, neither is it of any importance with God, save only in as much as it is referred unto another end.

They hauing prayed with fasting. They had a double end and reason of their praier: the first that, God would direct them with the spirit of wisdome and discretion, to choose the best and most meete men. For they knewe that they were not furnished with so great wisedome, but they might bee deceiued: neither did they so much trust to their diligence, but that they knew that the principall point did consist in the blessing of god: as we see mens iudgements erre daily, where the heauenly gouernment is not: and that all their labor is nothing worth, where the hande of God is not. These be the true signes and tokens of the godly, to call vpon the Spirit of God, that he may gouern their counsels. And if so be it this rule be to be obserued in all businesses: so often as the gouernement of the Church is in hand, which dependeth wholy vpon his will and pleasure, we must beware that we attempt nothing vnlesse we haue him for our guide and gouernour. And the second end of their prayer was, that God would furnish with necessary giftes those Pastours which were chosen. For it is a harder matter to fulfill such a function faithfullie as a man ought, than that mans strength is sufficient for it. Therefore they craue Gods help euen in this part also, hauing Paul and Barnabas for their authors. They fast likewise, that euen that may be a helpe to stir vp the feruentnes of their praiers. For we know how great our coldnes is otherwise. Not because it is alwaies necessarie that we should pray fasting, seing that god doth inuite euē those who are ful to giue thanks: