John Calvin Commentary Acts 26:18

"to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me." — Acts 26:18 (ASV)

That you may open their eyes. Paul, in taking to himself that which is proper to God, seems to exalt himself too highly. For we know that it is the Holy Spirit alone who enlightens the eyes. We know that Christ is the only Redeemer who delivers us from the tyranny of Satan.

We know that it is God alone who, having put away our sins, adopts us into the inheritance of the saints. But this is a common thing, that God transfers to his ministers that honor which is due to himself alone, not that he may take anything from himself, but that he may commend that mighty working of his Spirit which he shows forth in them.

For he does not send them to work, that they may be dead instruments, or, as it were, stage-players; but that he may work mightily by their hand. But it depends upon the secret power of his Spirit that their preaching is effectual, who works all things in all men, and who alone gives the increase.

Therefore, teachers are sent, not to utter their words in vain in the air, or to beat the ears only with a vain sound, but to bring living light to the blind, to conform men’s hearts to the righteousness of God, and to ratify the grace of salvation which is obtained by the death of Christ. But they do none of all these, except insofar as God works through them, that their labor may not be in vain, that all the praise may be his, as the effect comes from him.

And, therefore, we must note, that as often as the Scripture extols the external ministry so honorably, we must not separate it from the Spirit, who gives life to it just as the soul does the body. For it teaches in other places how little human effort can do of itself.

For they must plant and water, but it is God alone who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 11:6). But because many are hindered by their own ignorance and malice, so that they cannot reap such fruit of the gospel as they ought, we must note this description, which sets before our eyes briefly and abundantly that incomparable treasure.

Therefore, this is the purpose of the gospel: that being delivered from blindness of mind, we may be made partakers of the heavenly light; that being delivered from the bondage of Satan, we may be turned to God; that having free forgiveness of sins, we may be made partakers of the inheritance among the saints.

Those who will rightly profit in the gospel must direct all their senses to this end. For what good will the continual preaching of it do us, if we do not know its true use?

Also, the way and means to attain salvation is described to us. All men boast that they are desirous of salvation, but few consider how God will save them.

Therefore, this passage, in which the means is concisely comprehended, is, as it were, a key to open the gate of heaven.

Furthermore, we must know that all mankind is naturally deprived of those good things which Christ says we have by believing the gospel. It follows that all are blind, because they are enlightened by faith; that all are the bond-slaves of Satan, because they are set free by faith from his tyranny; that all men are the enemies of God, and subject to eternal death, because they receive remission of sins by faith.

So then, nothing is more miserable than we are, if we are without Christ and without faith in him. By this it appears how little, indeed, that nothing is left for free will or human merits.

Regarding each part, this enlightening is referred to the knowledge of God, because all our keenness of sight is utter vanity and thick darkness, until he appears to us by his truth.

What follows extends further: to be turned from darkness to light. For that is when we are renewed in the spirit of our mind.

Therefore, in my judgment, this part, and that which follows, both express one thing: to be turned from the power of Satan to God. For that renewing which Paul declares more largely in the second chapter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 2:10 and Ephesians 4:23) is expressed in diverse forms of speech.

Remission of sins follows next, by which God freely reconciles us to himself, so that we need not doubt that God will be favorable and merciful to us.

Finally, the provision and consummation of all things is placed last: namely, the inheritance of eternal life. Some mistakenly read 'by faith' as qualifying only 'sanctified' in the phrase 'among those who are sanctified by faith,' but this term actually extends to the whole statement. Therefore, its meaning is that by faith we come into the possession of all those good things which are offered by the gospel.

And faith is properly directed to Christ because all the parts of our salvation are included in him. Nor does the gospel command us to seek these things anywhere else except only in him.