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 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 ⟨p. 401⟩of the hope which showing us the haven nigh at hand doth refresh us even in the midst of shipwreck. Such a form doth Paul prescribe to us.¹ Let your prayers (saith he) be made known to God with thanksgiving. But in this history we must note the circumstances. For though the pain of the stripes were grievous, though the prison were troublesome, though the danger were great: seeing that Paul and Silas cease not to praise GOD, we gather by this how greatly they were encouraged to bear the cross.² So Luke reported before that the Apostles rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of the Lord.