Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles John Calvin (continued)
Commentary on Acts and universal faith, for the more part doth not submit themselves to the doctrine of God, as if they had made a covenant with God, save only so far forth as it pleaseth them. If any thing displease them they either carelessly contemn or mislike the same. But Cornelius doth wisely distinguish between God and man, for he maketh God the author of the doctrine, and leaveth nothing for man besides the ministry and embassage. "Thou shalt" saith he, "have attentive scholars, and those which will be obedient in all things which
God hath commanded thee; that he alone may be principal, and thou only his minister; that, he alone may speak but out of thy mouth," which thing God prescribeth to all his servants in the person of Ezekiel.
"Take" saith he, "the word out of my mouth, and thou shalt show unto them from me," (Ezekiel 33:7.)
Acts 10:34-38
Acts 10:34-38
34. And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I find that God is no accepter of persons: 35. But in every nation he that feareth him, and doth righteousness, is accepted of him. 36. Concerning the thing which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ; (he is Lord of all:) 37. Ye know how the word was spread throughout all Judea, beginning at Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38. How that God hath anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power; who went doing good, and healing all those which were holden by the devil, because God was with him.
34. Opening his mouth. We have already said, that the Scripture useth this phrase when it doth signify that there was any grave or weighty oration or speech made. In the fifth of Matthew, (Matthew 5:1,) it is said that Jesus opened his mouth when he would preach to his disciples, and intreat of most weighty matters, as if a man should say in Latin, he began to speak, having first well bethought himself what he would speak.
In truth I find. {Καταλαμβανεσθαι} is to apprehend, or to gather by reasons, signs, and conjectures. Cornelius was a Gentile born, yet God heareth his prayers; he vouchsafeth to show him the light of the gospel; he appointed and sendeth an angel to him particularly; thereby doth Peter know that, without respect of persons, those do please God which live godly and innocently. For before, (being wholly possessed with this prejudice, that the Jews alone were beloved of God, as they alone were chosen out of all people,) [nations,] he did not think that the grace of God could come unto others. He was not, indeed, so gross that he thought that godliness and innocency of life were condemned because they were in a man that was a Gentile; but, seeing he did simply snatch at that, 696 that all those were estranged
696"Illud arriperet," laid hold of the fact.