John Calvin Commentary Acts 1:2

"until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen:" — Acts 1:2 (ASV)

Even until that day. Therefore, the ascension of Christ is the end of the history of the gospel. For he has ascended, Paul says, that he might fulfill all things (Ephesians 4:10). Our faith gathers other fruit from it, but it will be sufficient to note here that our redemption was fully complete and finished when Christ ascended to his Father.

Therefore, Luke fully performed his duty in this narration, concerning the doctrine and works of Christ. And he is said to be taken up so that we may know that he has truly departed from this world, lest we should consent to the foolish notions of those who think that in his ascension no change of place was made.

Commandment by the Holy Ghost. Luke shows in these words that Christ did not so depart from the world that he no longer cared for us; for since he has ordained a perpetual government in his Church, he thereby declares that he took care to provide for our salvation. Yes, he has promised that he will be present with his own to the end (Matthew 28:20), just as, indeed, he is always present through his ministers.

Luke, therefore, shows us that Christ no sooner departed from here than he immediately provided for the government of his Church, from which we may gather that he is careful for our salvation. And Paul has plainly noted this providence of his in the passage recently cited, when he says, That he has fulfilled all things, making some apostles, some evangelists, some pastors, etc.

But these commandments, which the evangelist says Christ gave to his disciples, I interpret as referring to the preaching of the gospel; just as ambassadors are usually instructed with certain precepts before they go on their embassy, lest they should rashly attempt anything contrary to the will and mind of him who sends them.

And all this is spoken in praise of the doctrine which the apostles taught. So that this may appear more clearly, each point is to be noted in its order. First of all, he says they were elect and chosen by Christ, so that we may be certain of their calling to that function.

Neither does he here set God’s election against man’s merits, but only affirms that they were raised up by God, and that they did not rashly take this function upon themselves. It is true, indeed, that they were freely chosen; but now we must inquire what Luke’s main point is here.

I say that his only concern is that we may be certain of the apostles' calling, so that we may learn not to pay regard to men, but to the Son of God, its author, because this must always be a maxim in the Church: that no one should usurp any honor.

Secondly, he says that they were instructed by Christ what they should do. As if to say, that they did not utter their own inventions, but sincerely and faithfully delivered what was commanded them by their heavenly Master. And so that what Christ taught them might be more revered, he adds this: that this was done by the direction of the Holy Ghost.

Not because the Son of God needed to be guided by any other, who is eternal wisdom, but because he was also man, lest anyone should think that he delivered to his disciples those things which he delivered by human intellect and reason, he expressly calls us back to the divine authority.

Just as the Lord himself so often affirms that he taught nothing but what he had received from his Father; and therefore he says, that his doctrine was not his own. Therefore, he signifies that in the preaching of the gospel there is nothing which issues from the human mind, but that it is the divine ordinance of the Spirit, to which the whole world must be subject.