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…

21 Ordinances which. They lean to a prejudice, least the cause should come to be disputed: as the papists deal with us at this day, this was decreed in a general council: it is a more ancient & common opinion, than that it may be called in question: custom hath long time approved this: this hath been established by consent more then a thousand years ago. But to what end tend all these things save only that they may rob the word of god of all authority. They make boast of mans decrees, but in the mean season they leave no place at all for the laws of God. We may see by this place what force these prejudices ought to have. The laws of the Romans were excellent, but religion doth depend upon the word of God alone. Therefore in this matter we must take great heed, that men ⟨p. 399⟩being brought under, the authority of God alone do prevail, and that he make all things which in the world are excellent, subject to him.

21 Ordinances which. They lean to a preiudice, least the cause shuld com to be disputed: as the papists deale with vs at this day, this was decreed in a general councell: it is a more ancient & cōmon opinion, thā that it may be called in questiō: custom hath long time approued this: this hath been established by consent more then a thousand yeeres agoe. But to what end tend all these things saue only that they may rob the word of god of all authoritie. They make boast of mans decrees, but in the mean season they leaue no place at all for the lawes of God. Wee may see by this place what force these preiudices ought to haue. The lawes of the Romanes wer excellent, but religion doth depende vppon the worde of God alone. Therefore in this matter we must take great heed, that men ⟨p. 399⟩being brought vnder, the authoritie of God alone do preuaile, and that he make all things which in the world are excellent, subiect to him.

22 The multitude came together. When Luke declareth that there was great concourse of the people made, after that a few men of no reputation, to wit, such as did juggle and cousin to get gain, and whose filthiness was well known, had made some stir: he teacheth with what fury the world rageth against Christ. Foolishness and inconstancy are in deed common vices among all people, and almost continual, but the wonderful force of Satan doth therein bewray it self, in that those who are in other matters modest & quiet, are for a matter of no importance in a heat, & become companions of most vile persons, when the truth must be resisted. There was never a whit more modesty to be found in the judges themselves: if we consider what was their duty. For they ought by their gravity to have appeased the fury of the people, & to have set themselves stoutly against their violence, they ought to have aided & defended the guiltless: but they lay hands on them outrageously, & renting their garments, they command them to be stripped naked & whipped, before they know the matter. Surely the malice of men is to be lamented: whereby it came to pass, that almost all the judgement seats of the world which ought to have bin sanctuaries of justice, have bin polluted with the wicked & sacrilegious oppugning of the gospel. Notwithstanding the question is, why they were cast in prison, seeing they were already punished: for the prison was ordained for the keeping of men? They used this kind of correction, until they might know more: and so we see the servants of Christ more sharply handled, than adulterers, robbers, and other most vile persons. Whereby appeareth more plainly that force of Satan in stirring up the minds of men, that they observe no show of judgment in persecuting the gospel. But though the godly be more hardly handled for defending the truth of Christ, than are the wicked for their wickedness: yet it goeth well with the godly, because they triumph gloriously before god & his angels in all injuries which they suffer. They suffer reproach and slander: but because they know that the marks of Christ are in greater price & more esteemed in heaven, than the vain pomps of the earth, the more wickedly and reproachfully the world doth vex them, the greater cause have they to rejoice.