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…

13 James answered saying. Some old writers of the church, think that this James was one of the disciples, whose surname was Justus and Oblia, whose cruel death is recorded by Josephus in the twentieth book of his antiquities. But would to God the old writers had travelled rather to know the man, than to set forth with feigned praises the holiness ⟨p. 368⟩of a man whom they knew not. It is a childish toy & surmise, in that they say that it was lawful for him alone to enter into the most holy place. For if in that entering in there had bin any religion, he had done it contrary to the law of God forasmuch as he was not the highest Priest. Secondly, it was a superstitious thing thus to foster the shadowishe worship of the Temple. I omit other trifles. And they are greatly deceived in that they deny that he was one of the 12. Apostles.¹ For they are enforced to confess that it is he whom Paul commendeth so honourably, that he maketh him the chief among the three pillars of the church. Assuredly a man inferior in order and degree could never have excelled the Apostles so far. For Paul giveth him the title of an Apostle. Neither is that worth the hearing which Hierome bringeth, that the word is general there: seeing that the dignity of the order is there handled, for as much as Christ did prefer the Apostles before other Teachers of the church.

13 Iames answered saying. Some old writers of the church, think that this Iames was one of the disciples, whose syrname was Iustus and Oblia, whose cruel death is recorded by Iosephus in the twentieth booke of his antiquities. But would to God the olde writers had trauelled rather to know the man, thā to set foorth with feined praises the holines ⟨p. 368⟩of a man whom they knew not. It is a childish toy & surmise, in that they say that it was lawful for him alone to enter into the most holy place. For if in that entring in there had bin any religiō, he had done it contrary to the law of God forasmuch as he was not the highest Priest. Secondly, it was a superstitious thing thus to foster the shadowishe worshippe of the Temple. I omit other trifles. And they are greatly deceiued in that they deny that he was one of the 12. Apostles.