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…

But the scripture doeth not suffer any such divorce to be made, which joineth the ministry of men with the secret inspiration of the Spirit. Unless the mind of Lydia had been opened, Pauls preaching should have been only literal: and yet the Lord doth not inspire her with bare revelations only, but he giveth her the reverence of his word: so that the voice of man, which might otherwise have bin uttered in vain, doeth pierce into a mind endued with heavenly light. Therefore let those brainsick fellows be packing, who under colour of the spirit, refuse external doctrine. ⟨p. 393⟩For we must note the temperature or moderation which Luke setteth down here, that we can have or obtain nothing by the hearing of the word alone without the grace of the Spirit and that the spirit is given us, not that he may bring contempt of the word, but rather that he may dip into our minds, and write in our hearts the faith thereof.

But the scripture doeth not suffer any such diuorce to bee made, which ioyneth the ministerie of men with the secreat inspiration of the Spirite. Vnlesse the minde of Lydia had beene opened, Pauls preaching should haue beene onely literal: and yet the Lord doth not inspire her with bare reuelations onely, but he giueth her the reuerence of his word: so that the voice of man, which might otherwise haue bin vttered in vaine, doeth pearce into a minde indued with heauenly light. Therefore let those brainsicke fellows be packing, who vnder color of the spirit, refuse external doctrin. ⟨p. 393⟩For wee must note the temperature or moderation which Luke setteth downe here, that we can haue or obtaine nothing by the hearing of the worde alone without the grace of the Spirite and that the spirite is giuen vs, not that he may bring contempt of the word, but rather that he may dip into our mindes, and write in our heartes the faith thereof.

Now if the cause be demanded why the Lord opened one woman's heart alone, we must return unto that principle, that so many believe as are ordained to life. For the fear of God which went before the plain and manifest knowledge of Christ in Lydia, was also a fruit of free election. The describers of situations of places, say that Thyatira is a city of Lydia, situate upon the side of the river called Hermus, and that it was sometimes called Pelopia, but some there be who attribute it to Phrygia, some to Mysia.