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…

4 They were received of the Church. By this word Church he meaneth the multitude it self and the whole body: that done he assigneth a peculiar place to the Apostles and Elders, by whom Paul and Barnabas were specially received. Furthermore because the Apostles had no certain place of abode at Jerusalem: but went ever now and then sometimes to one place and sometimes to another, whither soever occasion did call them, that Church had Elders to whom the ordinary government of the Church was committed:¹ and what the one function differeth from the other we have before declared. And hereby it appeareth what brotherly courtesy there was in the Apostles and Elders, because they do not only courteously receive Paul and Barnabas: but so soon as they hear what success they had with their pains they took, they magnify the grace of God. Luke repeateth again that form of speech which we had before in the chapter next going before, when he saith that they declared whatsoever things God had done with them. Wherein we must remember that which I said before, that God is not made a fellow labourer, but all the whole praise of the work is ascribed to him. Therefore it is said that he did that with Paul and Barnabas, which he did by them: as he is said to deal mercifully with us, when he helpeth our miseries.

4 They were receiued of the Church. By this word Church he meaneth the multitude it selfe and the whole bodie: that done he assigneth a peculiar place to the Apostles and Elders, by whom Paul and Barnabas were specially receiued. Furthermore because the Apostles had no certaine place of abode at Ierusalem: but went euer now and then somtimes to one place and somtimes to another, whither soeuer occasion did call them, that Church had Elders to whom the ordinarie gouernement of the Church was committed:¹ and what the one function differeth from the other we haue before declared. And hereby it appeareth what brotherly curtesie there was in the Apostles and Elders, because they doe not onely courteously receiue Paul and Barnabas: but so soone as they heare what successe they had with their paines they tooke, they magnifie the grace of God. Luke repeateth againe that forme of speech which we had before in the chapter next going before, when he saith that they declared whatsoeuer things God had done with them. Wherin we must remember that which I said before, that God is not made a fellow labourer, but all the whole praise of the worke is ascribed to him. Therefore it is saide that hee did that with Paul and Barnabas, which hee did by them: as he is said to deale mercifully with vs, when he helpeth our miseries.