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…

23 And when they had given them many stripes, they did cast them into prison, commanding the keeper of the prison to keep them safe. 24 Who seeing he had received such commandment, did put them in the inner prison, and made fast their feet in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul & Silas praying did praise god. And those which lay bound heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And by and by all the doors were opened, and all their hands were loosed. 27 And when the keeper of the prison awaked, and saw all the prison doors open, drawing out his sword he was about to slay himself, thinking that those which lay bound were fled. 28 And Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: do thy self no harm: for we be all here.

23 And when they had giuen them many stripes, they did cast them into prison, commaunding the keeper of the prison to keepe them safe. 24 Who seeing he had receiued such commandement, did put them in the inner prison, and made fast their feet in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul & Silas praying did praise god. And those which lay bound heard them. 26 And sodainly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison wer shaken. And by and by all the dores were opened, and all their hands were loosed. 27 And when the keeper of the prison awaked, and saw al the prison dores open, drawing out his sworde he was about to slea himself, thinking that those which lay bounde were fled. 28 And Paul cryed with a loud voice, saying: do thy selfe no harm: for we be al heere.

23 That he should keep them safe. Whereas the Magistrates command that Paul and Silas should be kept so diligently, it was done to this end, that they might know more of the matter. For they had already beaten them with rods to appease the tumult. And this is that which I said of late, that the world doth rage with such blind fury against the ministers of the gospel, that it doth keep no mean in severity. But as it is very profitable for us for examples sake, to know how uncourteously and uncomely the witnesses of Christ were entertained in times past: so it is no less profitable to know that which Luke addeth immediately concerning their fortitude, and patience. For even when they lay bound with fetters, he saith that in prayer they lauded god, whereby it appeareth that neither the reproach which they suffered, nor the stripes which made their flesh smart: nor the stink of the deep dungeon, nor the danger of death, which was hard at hand, could hinder them from giving thanks to the Lord joyfully and with glad hearts. We must note this general rule, that we cannot pray as we ought, but we must also praise God. For though the desire to pray, arise of the feeling of our want and miseries, and therefore it is for the most part joined with sorrow and carefulness: yet the faithful must so bridle their affections, that they mumur not against God: so that the right form of prayer doth join two affections together, to look too contrary: carefulness, and sorrow, by reason of the present necessity which doth keep us down, and joyfulness, by reason of the obedience whereby we submit our selves to God, and by reason