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…

She besought them saying. This hath the force of an admiration, when she saith, if ye have judged me faithful: as if she should say, I beseech you by that faith which you have approved by baptism, that ye refuse not to lodge with me. And Lydia did by such an earnest desire, testify, how entirely she loved the Gospel. Nevertheless it is not to be doubted, but that the Lord gave her such an affection, to the end Paul might be the more encouraged to proceed: not only because he saw that he was liberally and courteously entertained, but also because he might thereby judge of the fruit of his doctrine. Therefore this was not the woman's inviting ⟨p. 394⟩only, but also Gods, to keep Paul and his company there, to which end that tendeth also, that Lydia enforced them: as if God did lay hand upon them and stay them in the woman's person.

She besought them saying. This hath the force of an admiration, when she saith, if ye haue iudged me faithfull: as if she should say, I beseech you by that faith which you haue approued by baptisme, that yee refuse not to lodge with me. And Lydia did by such an earnest desire, testifie, howe entirely she loued the Gospel. Neuerthelesse it is not to be doubted, but that the Lorde gaue her such an affection, to the end Paul might be the more incouraged to proceed: not only because hee saw that hee was liberally and courteously entertained, but also because he might therby iudge of the frute of his doctrine. Therfore this was not the womans inuiting ⟨p. 394⟩only, but also Gods, to keep Paul and his company there, to which end that tendeth also, that Lydia inforced them: as if God did lay hand vpō them and stay them in the womans person.

16 And it happened as we went to prayer, a certain maid having a spirit of divination did meet us, which brought her masters much gain by divining. 17 She followed Paul and us, and cried, saying: These men are the servants of the most high God, which preach to us the way of salvation. 18 And this she did many days. And Paul taking it grievously, and turning back said to the spirit: I command thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that thou come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw, that the hope of their gain was gone, having taken Paul and Silas, they drew them into the market place to the rulers. 20 And when they had presented them to the Magistrates they said, These men trouble our city seeing they be Jews: 21 And they preach ordinances, which we may not receive, nor keep, seeing we are Romans. 22 And the multitude came together against them: and when the Magistrates had rent their garments, they commanded them to be beaten with rods.