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 believe. This was a seal to confirm the calling of the Gentiles. The office of teaching was enjoined Peter by an oracle: but the fruit which came of his doctrine, doth make his ministry noble, & authentical, as they call it. For seeing that the elect are illuminate into the faith by a peculiar grace of the Spirit, doctrine shall bring forth no fruit, unless the Lord show forth his power in his ministers: in teaching the minds of those inwardly which hear, and in drawing their hearts inwardly. Therefore seeing the Lord commanded that the doctrine of the Gospel ⟨p. 358⟩should be brought unto the Gentiles, he did sanctify them to himself, that they might be no longer profane. But the solemn consecration was then perfect in all points, when he imprinted in their hearts by faith, the mark of their adoption. The sentence which followeth immediately is to be understood as set down by way of exposition. For Peter annexeth the visible graces of the Spirit unto faith: as assuredly they were nothing else but an addition thereof. Therefore seeing that the Gentiles are engrafted into the people of God without Circumcision and Ceremonies, Peter gathereth that it was not well done to lay upon them any necessity to keep the Law. Yet it seemeth to be but a weak argument to prove their Election withal, because the holy ghost came down upon them. For they were such gifts that they could not reason from the same, that they were reckoned in the number of the godly. But it is the Spirit of regeneration alone, which distinguisheth the children of God from strangers. I answer, Though men who were otherwise vain, were endued with the gift of tongues and such like: yet doth Peter take for a thing which all men grant, that which was known, that God had sealed in Cornelius and his cousins, his free adoption by the visible grace of the Spirit, as if he should point out his children with his finger.

And beleeue. This was a seale to confirme the calling of the Gentiles. The office of teaching was inioyned Peter by an oracle: but the fruite which came of his doctrine, doth make his ministery noble, & authentical, as they call it. For seeing that the elect are illuminate into the faith by a peculiar grace of the Spirit, doctrin shal bring forth no fruit, vnlesse the Lord shew forth his power in his ministers: in teaching the mindes of those inwardly which heare, and in drawing their hearts inwardly. Therefore seing the Lord commanded that the doctrine of the Gospel ⟨p. 358⟩