The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

11 Therefore when we had loosed from Troas, we came with a straight course into Samothracia, and the day following to Neapolis. 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief City of the parties of Macedonia, being a free City. And we stayed in the same City certain days. 13 And on the day of the Sabbaths we went out of the City besides a river, where was wont to be prayer: and sitting, we spake to the woman which came together. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purples, of the City of the Thyatirians, which worshipped God, heard: whose heart the Lord opened, that she might take heed to those things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized and her house, she besought us, saying, If ye judge me faithful to the Lord, enter into my house and tarry. And she enforced us.

11 Therefore when we had loosed from Troas, we came with a streight course into Samothracia, and the day following to Neapolis. 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chiefe Citie of the parties of Macedonia, beeing a free Citie. And wee stayed in the same Citie certaine dayes. 13 And on the day of the Sabaoths wee went out of the Citie besides a ryuer, where was wont to be prayer: and sitting, we spake to the woman which came togither. 14 And a certaine woman named Lydia, a seller of purples, of the Citie of the Thyatirians, which worshipped God, heard: whose heart the Lord opened, that she might take heed to those things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when shee was baptized and her house, shee besought vs, saying, If yee iudge me faithfull to the Lorde, enter into my house and tarry. And she inforced vs.

11 This history doeth as it were in a glass show, how sharply the Lord did exercise the faith & patience of his, by bringing them in great straits, which they could not have overcome unless they had ben endued with singular constancy. For the entrance of Paul into Macedonia is reported to be such, as that it might have caused him to give but small credence to the vision. These holy men leaving the work which they had in hand, did cross the seas with great hast, as if the whole nation of the Macedonians would have come to meet them with earnest desire to be holpen. Now the success is so far from being answerable to their hope, that their mouths are almost quite stopped. When they enter the chief City, they find none there with whom they may take any pains, therefore they are enforced to go into the field that they may speak in an obscure corner and wilderness. Yea even there they cannot have one man which will hearken to their doctrine, they can only have one woman to be a disciple of Christ: and that one which was an alien. Who would not have said that this journey was taken in hand foolishly, which fell out so unhappily? But the Lord doeth thus bring to pass his works under a base & weak kind: that his power may shine more clearly at length, and it was most meet that the beginnings of the kingdom of Christ should be so ordered, that they might taste of the humility of the cross. But we must mark the constancy of Paul & his companions, who