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…

Even as they. Peter doth testify in this place, that though the servitude of the law were laid upon the Fathers as touching the external show: yet were their consciences free and quit: whereby is put away that absurdity, which might otherwise have troubled godly minds not a little. For seeing that the covenant of life is eternal, and the same which God made with his servants from the beginning until the end of the world: it were an absurd thing & untollerable that any other way to obtain salvation should be taught at this day, then that which the fathers had in times past. Therefore Peter affirmeth that we agree very well with the fathers: because they no less then we reposed hope of salvation in the grace of Christ. And so reconciling the law and the gospel together, as touching the end of the doctrine, he taketh from the Jews the stumbling block, which they feigned to themselves by reason of the discord. Whereby it appeareth that the law was not given to the fathers, that they might thereby purchase salvation: neither were the ceremonies added, that by the observing thereof they might attain unto righteousness: but this was the only end of all the whole law, that casting from them all confidence, which they might repose in works, they might repose all their hope in the grace of Christ. Whereby is also refuted the doting of those who think that the old people in as much as they were content with earthly goods, did think no whit of the heavenly life. But Peter maketh the fathers partners with us of the same faith: and doth make salvation common to both, and yet there be some which delight in that brainsick fellow Seruetus with his so filthy sacrileges. Furthermore we must note that Peter teacheth that the faith of the fathers was always grounded in Christ, seeing that they could neither find life any where else, neither was there any other way for men to come unto God. Therefore this place agreeth with that saying of the Apostle, Christ yesterday and to day,¹ and for ever.

Euen as they. Peter doth testifie in this place, that though the seruitude of the law were laid vpon the Fathers as touching the externall shew: yet were their consciences free and quit: whereby is put away that absurditie, which might otherwise haue troubled godlie minds not a little. For seeing that the couenant of life is eternall, and the same which God made with his seruants from the beginning vntill the ende of the world: it were an absurd thing & vntollerable that any other way to obtain saluation should be taught at this day, then that which the fathers had in times past. Therfore Peter affirmeth that we agree very wel with the fathers: because they no lesse then we reposed hope of saluation in the grace of Christ. And so reconciling the law and the gospel together, as touching the end of the doctrine, he taketh from the Iewes the stumbling blocke, which they feigned to themselues by reason of the discord. Whereby it appeareth that the lawe was not giuen to the fathers, that they might thereby purchase saluation: neither wer the ceremonies added, that by the obseruing thereof they might attain vnto righteousnes: but this was the only end of all the whole lawe, that casting from them all confidence, which they might repose in works, they might repose all their hope in the grace of Christ. Whereby is also refuted the doting of those who thinke that the old people in as much as they were content with earthly goods, did think no whit of the heauēly life. But Peter maketh the fathers partners with vs of the same faith: and doth make saluation common to both, and yet there bee some which delight in that brainsicke fellow Seruetus with his so filthie sacrileges. Furthermore we must note that Peter teacheth that the faith of the fathers was alwaies grounded in Christ, seeing that they could neither finde life any where els, neither was there any other way for men to come vnto God. Therefore this place agreeth with that saying of the Apostle, Christ yesterday and to day,