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…

19 But when her masters. The same devil who of late did flatter Paul by the mouth of the maid, doth now drive her masters into fury, that they may put him to death: so that having changed his coat he doth now play a tragedy: who could not speed well before by his fair speech and flattery. And though the heat of zeal wherewith Paul was provoked to anger did raise the whirlwind of persecution, yet is he not therefore to be blamed: neither did it any whit repent Paul that he had wrought the miracle, so that he did wish that that were undone which was done, because he knew full well through what motion he had driven the devil out of the maid: whereby we are taught that we must not rashly condemn things which are well done, and that which is taken in hand at the commandment of God, though an unhappy success follow: because God doth then examine the constancy of those which be his, until a more joyful and prosperous end drive away all sorrow. ⟨p. 398⟩As touching the men, Luke expresseth the cause why they were so mad upon Paul: to wit, because their hope of filthy gain was gone. But though they were pricked forward with covetousness only to persecute the Gospel and the ministers thereof: yet they pretend a fair colour, that it grieveth them that the public state should be perverted, that their ancient laws should be broken, and peace troubled. So though the enemies of Christ behave themselves wickedly and unhonestly, yet they always invent some cause for their sin. Yea though their wicked desire appear plainly, yet with an impudent face they always bring in somewhat to cover their filthiness withal. So at this day those Papists which are more zealous over their law, have nothing else in their minds besides their gain and government. Let them swear and forswear by all their Saints and sacrifices that they are enforced only with a godly affection: yet the matter it self doth plainly show, that it is the coldness of their kitchens which maketh their zeal so hot, and that ambition is the fan thereof. For they be either hungry dogs pricked forward with greediness: or furious Lions breathing out nothing but cruelty.

19 But when her masters. The same diuell who of late did flatter Paul by the mouth of the maid, doth now driue her masters into furie, that they may put him to death: so that hauing chāged his coat he doth now play a tragedie: who could not speed welbefore by his faire speech and flatterie. And though the heat of zeale wherewith Paul was prouoked to anger did raise the whirlewinde of persecution, yet is hee not therefore to be blamed: neither did it any whit repent Paul that he had wrought the myracle, so that hee did wish that that were vndone which was done, because he knew full wel through what motion he had driuen the diuell out of the maid: whereby we are taught that we must not rashlie condemne thinges which are well done, and that which is taken in hand at the commandement of God, though an vnhappie successe follow: because God doth then examine the constancie of those which bee his, vntill a more ioyfull and prosperous ende driue away all sorrowe.