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…

16 After these things I will return. Because the place is not cited word for word as it is in the prophet, we must see what difference there is: though it be not necessary to examine straitly what diversity there is in the words, so it appear that the prophecy doeth fitly agree with the matter which is in hand. After that God hath promised the restoring of the tabernacle of David, he saith also, that he will bring to pas, that the Jews shall possess the remnants of Edom. In all that text there appeareth nothing as yet, whence the calling of the gentiles can be fet or gathered: but that which followeth immediately after in the prophet, concerning the remnant of the Gentiles, which shall call upon the name of the Lord, doeth plainly show that the Jews & Gentiles shall make one ⟨p. 370⟩church, because that which was then proper to the Jews alone, is given to both in general. For God placeth the Gentiles in like degree of honour with the Jews, when he will have them to call upon his name. Those of Idumea and the people there about were in times past under David, subject to the Jews, but though they were tributaries to the people of God, yet were they nevertheless strangers from the church. Therefore this was news & a strange thing, in that God reckoneth them up with the holy people, that he may be called the God of them all. Seeing that it is certain that they are all made equal in honour among themselves by this means. Whereby it doth plainly appear how well the testimony of the prophet agreeth with the present purpose. For God promiseth to restore the decayed Tabernacle, wherein the Gentiles shall obey the kingdom of David, not only that they may pay tribute, or take weapon at the kings commandment: but that they may have one god, & that they may be one family to him: yet there may a question be moved, why he had rather cite this prophecy, then many other, which contain more plentiful proof of the matter which he hath in hand, of which sort Paul citeth many.¹ I answer first that the apostles were not ambitious in heaping up places of scripture: but they did simply aim at this, which was sufficient for them: to wit, that they might prove that their doctrine was taken out of the word of god, Secondly, I say that this prophecy of Amos is more plain then it is commonly taken to be.

16 After these things I will returne. Because the place is not cited word for word as it is in the prophet, we must see what difference there is: thogh it be not necessary to examin straitly what diuersitie there is in the wordes, so it appeare that the prophesie doeth fitly agree with the matter which is in hand. After that God hath promised the restoring of the tabernacle of Dauid, he saith also, that he will bring to pas, that the Iewes shall possesse the remnants of Edom. In all that text there appeareth nothing as yet, whence the calling of the gentiles can be fet or gathered: but that which followeth immediatly after in the prophet, concerning the remnant of the Gentiles, which shall call vpon the name of the Lord, doeth plainly shewe that the Iewes & Gentiles shall make one