John Calvin Commentary Acts 3:26

"Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." — Acts 3:26 (ASV)

He has raised up His Son. He gathers from the words of Moses that Christ is now revealed. But the words do not seem to imply such a thing; yet he reasons fittingly in this way, because the blessing could not exist otherwise, unless its beginning flowed from the Messiah.

For we must always remember this: that all mankind is accursed, and therefore, a unique remedy is promised to us, which is accomplished by Christ alone. Therefore, He is the only fountain and beginning of the blessing.

And if Christ came for this purpose, that He may bless the Jews first, and secondly, us, He has undoubtedly done that which was His duty to do; and we will feel the force and effect of this duty in ourselves, unless our unbelief hinders us.

This was a part of the priest’s office under the Law, to bless the people; and, so that this would not be only an empty ceremony, a promise was added, as it is in Numbers 6:27. And that which was foreshadowed in the old priesthood was truly fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 7:1, 6). Concerning this matter, we have spoken more extensively in the seventh chapter of Hebrews.

I do not like Erasmus’s translation; for he says, when he had raised him up, as if he spoke of something that was done long ago. But Peter means rather, that Christ was raised up when He was declared to be the author of the blessing; and since this was done recently and suddenly, it ought to move their minds all the more.

For Scripture usually speaks in this way, as in the final reference to Moses, to which Peter alludes. To raise up a prophet is to equip him with the necessary gifts to fulfill his function, and, so to speak, to elevate him to the level of prophetic honor.

And Christ was raised up then, when He fulfilled the function assigned to Him by His Father, but the same thing is done daily when He is offered through the gospel, that He may be preeminent among us. We have said that in the adverb of order, 'first,' the right of the firstborn is noted, because it was fitting that Christ should begin with the Jews, so that He might afterward pass over to the Gentiles.

While He turns. He again commends the doctrine of repentance, so that we may learn to include newness of life under the blessing of Christ, as when Isaiah promises that a Redeemer should come to Zion, he adds a restriction: Those which in Jacob shall be turned from their iniquities. For Christ does not do away with the sins of the faithful so that they may grant themselves liberty to sin under this pretext; but He also makes them new men. Although we must diligently distinguish these two benefits which are linked together, so that this foundation may continue: that we are reconciled to God by free pardon, I know that other men interpret it differently; but this is Luke's true meaning, for he speaks thus word for word: In turning every one from his wickedness.

In this narrative, we must chiefly consider three things:

1. As soon as the truth of the gospel once appears, Satan sets himself against it on the other side, as much as he is able, and attempts all things so that he may smother it in its very first beginnings.
2. God equips His children with invincible force and strength, so that they may stand steadfast and unmovable against all assaults of Satan, and not yield to the violence of the wicked.
3. We must note the outcome and end: that however much the adversaries seem to hold the greatest sway, and they themselves omit nothing that may serve to blot out the name of Christ; and, on the other hand, however much the ministers of sound doctrine are like sheep in the mouths of wolves, yet God spreads abroad the kingdom of His Son, He fosters the light of the gospel which is lit, and He is the protector of His children.

Therefore, as often as the doctrine of the gospel arises, and various commotions arise on the other side, and its course is hindered in various ways, there is no reason why godly minds should faint or quail, as at some unusual thing. But they ought rather to remember that these are Satan's ordinary endeavors, so that we must consider this well before it happens: it is inevitable that Satan will spew out all his might and main whenever Christ comes forth with His doctrine.

Furthermore, let us consider that the constancy of the apostles is set forth to us as an example, so that, should we be overcome by any perils, threats, or terrors, we do not leap back from that profession of faith which the Lord requires from us. And, moreover, let us comfort ourselves with this: that we need not doubt that the Lord will give prosperous success when we have faithfully done our duty.