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…

For faith doth not make us clean, as a virtue or quality poured into our souls: but because it receiveth that cleanness which is offered in Christ. We must also note the phrase, that God purified the hearts: whereby Luke doth both make God the author of faith, and he reacheth also that cleanness is his benefit. To make short, he signifieth unto us, that that is given to men by the grace of God, which they cannot give to themselves. But forasmuch as we said that faith taketh that of Christ which it transpoureth into us: we must now see how the grace of Christ doth make us clean, that we may please god. And there is a double manner of purging, because Christ doth offer & present us clean and just in the sight of his father, by putting away our sins daily, which he hath once purged by his blood: secondly because by mortifying the lusts of the flesh by his spirit, he reformeth us unto holiness of life. I do willingly comprehend both kinds of purging under these words: because Luke doth not touch one kind of purging only, but he teacheth that the whole perfection thereof consisteth without the ceremonies of the Law.

For faith doth not make vs cleane, as a vertue or qualitie powred into our soules: but because it receiueth that cleannesse which is offered in Christ. Wee must also note the phrase, that God purified the hearts: whereby Luke doth both make God the authour of faith, and he reacheth also that cleannes is his benefit. To make short, hee signifieth vnto vs, that that is giuen to men by the grace of God, which they cannot giue to thēselues. But forasmuch as we said that faith taketh that of Christ which it transpoureth into vs: we must now see how the grace of Christ doth make vs cleane, that we may please god. And there is a double maner of purging, because Christ doth offer & present vs cleane and iust in the sight of his father, by putting away our sinnes daily, which he hath once purged by his blood: secondly because by mortifying the lusts of the flesh by his spirit, he reformeth vs vnto holines of life. I do willingly comprehend both kinds of purging vnder these words: because Luke doth not touch one kind of purging only, but he teacheth that the whol perfection thereof consisteth without the ceremonies of the Law.