John Calvin Commentary Acts 1:21

"Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us," — Acts 1:21 (ASV)

We must therefore. What he introduces here might seem, at first sight, to be far-fetched. For if David spoke of transposing Judas’s bishopric, it did not immediately follow from that that the disciples should choose another to be his successor. Yet, because they knew that they had this charge given them to order the Church, as soon as Peter had told them that it pleased the Lord that it should be so, he concludes from this that they ought to do it.

For whenever God intends to use us as means to maintain the government of His Church, as soon as we know what His will is, we must not delay, but resolutely perform whatever is required in our ministry and function. That was, without any controversy, the duty of the Church; just as, today, when we hear that those who behave ungodly and wickedly must be removed from their office, and that others must be chosen in their place, the Church must undertake this responsibility.

Therefore, it was unnecessary to raise any question about a matter that was not in doubt. Therefore, let us always remember to consider what we have to do, so that we may be ready to obey the Lord. Furthermore, when he discusses the making of an apostle, he says, He must be a witness of the resurrection; which signifies that apostleship is not without the preaching of the gospel.

From this it may appear how vain and frivolous the Popish bishops are, who, wearing only dumb masks, boast that they are the successors of the apostles. But in what way are they like them?

I grant that Peter does here require a witness who saw the Lord after His resurrection, of which kind John professes himself to be one, when he says, He which saw it beareth witness (John 19:35). For this served for the confirmation of faith. Yet, nevertheless, Peter makes it a necessary thing for him and the rest of his colleagues in office that they should teach, as he makes them and himself preachers or witnesses of the resurrection.

He names the resurrection, not because they must bear witness of it alone, but because, first, under this is included the preaching of the death of Christ. Secondly, because in it we have the goal of our redemption, and its accomplishment. And also it brings with it the heavenly government of Christ, and the power of the Spirit in defending His people, in establishing justice and equity, in restoring order, in abolishing the tyranny of sin, and in putting to flight all the enemies of the Church.

Let us know, therefore, that those things which are necessarily connected are not excluded by this word. Nevertheless, let us note that the resurrection is named here before other things, as being the chief point of the gospel, as Paul also teaches (1 Corinthians 15:17).

But were the apostles alone witnesses of the resurrection? Was not this also common to the rest of the disciples? For Peter seems to claim this as proper only to the apostles. I answer that this title is therefore attributed to them because they were chosen specifically for that function, and because they had the chief place among those who brought this message. Therefore, though they were the chief of those who were assigned, yet they were not the only ones appointed to it.

All that time. He begins at that time when Jesus began to show Himself to the world, which is to be diligently observed, as I have said before; for He lived privately until He was almost thirty years of age. For He would not make Himself known further than was necessary for our salvation.

Therefore, when the time had come in which He was to undertake the work His Father had appointed Him, He came forth like a new man, and one who was only recently born. Everyone may easily perceive what great power this has to restrain our curiosity.

The whole life of Christ might have been a most marvelous mirror of more than absolute perfection; and yet, nevertheless, so that He might keep us occupied in the study and meditation of those things which were most necessary to be known, He chose to live the greater part of His life obscurely and in secret. Who dares now wander apart from Christ, seeing that He applies the knowledge of Himself to the building up of faith?

The Hebrews understand this phrase, “to go in and out,” as meaning to be conversant and to live among men. In this sense, citizens are said to go in and out by the gates of their city; so John 10:9 says:

If any man enter in by me, he shall go in and out,
and shall find pasture. (John 10:9)

Although, in 2 Chronicles 1:10, it seems to be a token of rule and government.