John Calvin Commentary Acts 10:5

"And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:" — Acts 10:5 (ASV)

Now send to Joppa. God dealt most favorably with Cornelius, in that He does not command him to go himself, but to send messengers to Peter, so that he may stay quietly at home, and Peter may endure the hardship of the journey for his sake. But let us not wonder that Cornelius was treated so graciously, seeing that God daily thrusts the ministers of His word even upon the unwilling; so that He appears of His own accord to those who do not seek Him, as He says through Isaiah (Isaiah 65:1). But why does the angel not teach him instead?

For it seems an unfitting thing that the angel yields his task to a mortal man; for the angelic message would have had greater authority than the gospel preached to him by a mortal man. Just as when Christ appeared to Paul in a vision, He nevertheless appointed Ananias to teach him, so that by such an example He might establish the ministry of preaching the gospel, which He committed to His Church; so now the angel gives way to Peter, so that Peter may carry out the office committed to him by Christ.

Therefore, whoever desires to be a disciple of Christ and be illuminated by the heavenly light of heavenly wisdom, let him not be reluctant to show attentiveness and docility toward the outward voice of men, which Christ uses as an instrument, and to which He desires our faith to be joined.

And we see how severely God has punished the furious pride of those who, despising preaching, have sought revelations from heaven. For since God chooses to be heard through people, the ministers to whom He has given His word cannot be despised without contempt and reproach toward Him.

Nevertheless, I acknowledge that the spirits must be proved (1 John 4:1), so that we do not listen indiscriminately to whoever claims to be a minister of Christ. But because faith cometh by hearing (Romans 10:17), no one will attain to it who refuses and despises the word when it is preached.