John Calvin Commentary Acts 2:40

"And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation." — Acts 2:40 (ASV)

And with many Although in these matters which we have considered until now, Luke did not recount the exact words of Peter, but only briefly touched on the main points; nevertheless, he tells us again in this place that Peter did not only use doctrine, but also added the spurs of exhortations.

And he plainly expresses that Peter greatly emphasized this. When he says that Peter exhorted and pleaded, he thereby notes his earnestness. For it was not such an easy matter for them to immediately abandon those errors with which they had recently been infected, and to shake off the rule of the priests to which they were accustomed.

Therefore, it was necessary for him to pull them forcefully out of this mire. The main point was this: that they should beware of that froward generation. For they could not belong to Christ unless they departed from His professed enemies. The priests and scribes were then in great authority, and since they covered themselves with the mask of the Church, they deceived the simple; this hindered and kept back a great many from coming to Christ.

Also, some might waver, and others might fall away from the true faith. Therefore, Peter plainly declares that they are a froward generation, however much they might boast of the title of the Church. For this reason, he commands his hearers to separate themselves from them, lest they entangle themselves in their wicked and destructive fellowship.

When he says, Be ye saved, he signifies to them that they will surely perish if they associate themselves with such a plague. And surely, experience teaches us how miserably those people are tossed to and fro who cannot distinguish the voice of their pastor from the voice of others; and again, what a hindrance softness and sluggishness are to a great many, while they desire to remain in doubt.

Therefore, he commands them to depart from the wicked if they wish to be saved. And this point of doctrine is not to be neglected. For it would not be sufficient to have Christ presented to us, unless we were also taught to flee those things that lead us away from Him.

And it is the duty of a good shepherd to defend his sheep from the wolves. So today, so that we may keep the people in the pure doctrine of the gospel, we are often constrained to show and testify how much Popery differs from Christianity, and what a harmful plague it is to be yoked with the unfaithful enemies of Christ.

Nor should Peter be accused of railing because he calls the reverend fathers, who then governed the Church, a froward generation. For those dangers that can draw the soul to destruction must be called by their names. For people will not beware of poison unless they know that it is poison.