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…

Men and brethren, hear me. James his oration consisteth upon two principal members, For first he confirmeth and proveth the calling of the gentiles by the testimony of the prophet Amos, secondly he showeth what is best to be don, to nourish peace & concord among the faithful, yet so that the liberty of the gentiles may continue safe & sound, & that the grace of Christ may not be darkened. Whereas Peter is in this place called Simeon, it may be that this name was diversly pronounced then. Whereas he saith that God did visit to take a people of the Gentiles, it is referred unto the mercy of God, whereby he vouchsafed to receive strangers into his family. It is in deed a harsh phrase, yet such as containeth a profitable doctrine, because he maketh God the author of the calling of the Gentiles, and pronounceth that it is through his goodness, that they began to be reckoned among his people, when he saith that they were taken by him: but he proceedeth further, when he saith that he did visit that he might take. For this is his meaning, that, at such ⟨p. 369⟩time as the Gentiles were turned away from God, he did mercifully look upon them: because we can do nothing but depart farther and farther from him, until such time as his fatherly look prevent us, of his own accord.

Men and brethren, heare me. Iames his oration consisteth vppon two principall members, For first he confirmeth and proueth the calling of the gētiles by the testimony of the prophet Amos, secondly he sheweth what is best to be don, to nourish peace & cōcord among the faithfull, yet so that the liberty of the gentiles may cōtinue safe & sound, & that the grace of Christ may not be darkned. Whereas Peter is in this place called Simeon, it may be that this name was diuersly pronounced then. Whereas he saith that God did visit to take a people of the Gentiles, it is referred vnto the mercy of God, whereby hee vouchsafed to receiue strangers into his familie. It is in deed a harsh phrase, yet such as containeth a profitable doctrine, because hee maketh God the authour of the calling of the Gentiles, and pronounceth that it is through his goodnesse, that they began to be reckoned among his people, when he saith that they were taken by him: but he proceedeth further, when he saith that he did visit that he might take. For this is his meaning, that, at such ⟨p. 369⟩time as the Gentiles were turned away from God, hee did mercifully looke vpon them: because we can doe nothing but depart farther and farther from him, vntill such time as his fatherly look preuent vs, of his owne accord.