John Calvin Commentary Acts 14:27

"And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles." — Acts 14:27 (ASV)

After they had called the Church together. As those who return from a mission customarily give an account of their actions, so Paul and Barnabas declared to the Church the full account of their journey.

This was so that by this it might be clear what good success they had and how faithfully they had conducted themselves in their ministry.

It was also so that they might encourage the faithful to give thanks to God, since the event itself gave them ample reason.

Therefore, Luke says, it was not that they exalted the things which they themselves had done, but whatever things the Lord had done through them.

It is literally with them; but according to the Hebrew idiom, it is the same as if it had been said, in them, or by them, or towards them, or simply to them, in the dative case.

Therefore Luke does not say συν αυτοις, but μετα αυτων. I say this so that no uninformed person might attribute some part of the praise to Paul and Barnabas, as if they had been God's partners in the work.

In fact, Luke rather presents Him as the sole author of all those notable deeds they had accomplished.

Luke adds immediately afterward that the Lord had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

For although they were sent to the Gentiles, the novelty of the matter still caused them to wonder considerably.

Not only did the sudden change astonish the Jews, but there was another reason for their amazement.

It was because it seemed to them, so to speak, a shocking thing that unclean men, and those alienated from the kingdom of God, should be mingled with the holy seed of Abraham to form one and the same Church of God.

They were now taught by the event itself that it was not in vain that apostles had been sent to them.

Moreover, when it is said that the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles, this signifies more than just the outward preaching of the gospel to them.

It also means that, being enlightened by the Spirit of God, they were effectively called to the faith.

The kingdom of heaven is indeed opened to us by the outward preaching of the gospel.

However, no one enters except the one to whom God reaches out His hand; no one draws near unless he is drawn inwardly by the Spirit.

Therefore, Paul and Barnabas demonstrated by the outcome that their calling was approved and confirmed by God.

This was because the faith of the Gentiles was, so to speak, a seal engraved by the hand of God to confirm it, as Paul says (Romans 16:25; 2 Corinthians 3:7).