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…

18. Known from the beginning. This is a prevention to put away the hatred which might have risen upon the novelty. For the sudden change might have been suspected: and therefore did it trouble weak minds. Therefore James preventeth, showing that this was no new thing ⟨p. 372⟩with god, though it fell out suddenly otherwise then men thought. Because god saw before the world was created, what he would do, & the calling of the Gentiles was hidden in his secret counsel. Whereupon it followeth that it must not be esteemed according to the sense of man. Furthermore James hath respect unto the words of the prophet, when he affirmeth that God who should do all these things, was also the author of the prophecy. Therefore his meaning is, that seeing god speaketh by his prophet: he saw then, yea from the very beginning, that neither uncircumcision nor any thing else should let him, but that he would chose the Gentiles into his family. Nevertheless there is comprehended under this a general exhortation, that men do not take upon them to measure with the small measure of their wit,¹ the works of God, the reason whereof is oftentimes known to none but to himself. But rather let them cry being astonied, that his ways are past finding out, and that his judgements are too deep a depth.

18. Knowen from the beginning. This is a preuention to put away the hatred which might haue risen vppon the noueltie. For the sodaine change might haue beene suspected: and therefore did it trouble weake minds. Therfore Iames preuenteth, shewing that this was no new thing ⟨p. 372⟩with god, though it fell out sodainly otherwise then mē thoght. Because god saw before the world was created, what he wold do, & the calling of the Gentiles was hidden in his secret counsell. Whereupon it followeth that it must not be esteemed according to the sense of man. Furthermore Iames hath respect vnto the wordes of the prophet, when he affirmeth that God who should do all these things, was also the authour of the prophesie. Therefore his meaning is, that seeing god speaketh by his prophet: he saw then, yea from the very beginning, that neither vncircū cision nor any thing els should let him, but that he would chose the Gentiles into his family. Neuertheles ther is comprehended vnder this a general exhortation, that men do not take vpon them to measure with the small measure of their wit,