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…

27 when the keeper of the prison was awaked. He would have slain himself, that he might prevent punishment, For it had been a foolish answer to have said that the doors were opened of their own accord. But this question may be asked. Seeing that Paul seeth that they might have some hope to escape if he should slay himself, why doth he hinder him: for he seemeth by this means to refuse the deliverance which was offered by god: yea it seemeth to have bin a mere toy, in that the Lord would have the Jailer awaked, least there should be any use of the miracle. I answer, that ⟨p. 402⟩we must in this place have respect unto his counsel & purpose. For he did not loose Paul & Silas, and the rest from their fetters, neither did he therefore open the doors, that he might straight way let them go free: but that by showing the power of his hand, he might seal up the faith of Paul and Silas: and might make the name of Christ glorious among others. Therefore he doth so yield to the petitions of Paul and Silas, that he showeth that he is able enough to deliver them so often as he shall think it good: and that nothing can hinder him, but that he is able to enter not only into prisons: but also into graves, that he may deliver those that be his. He opened the gates of the prison to Peter to another end as we saw chap. 12. But now forasmuch as he had another way in readiness to deliver Paul & Silas, he meant not so much to deliver them for the present time by miracle, as to confirm them against the time to come. Again, we must call that to mind which I said of late, that the opening of the prison appertained unto others, that it might be known to many witnesses, that God did favour the doctrine, which was now burdened with an unjust prejudice. Undoubtedly Paul perceived this: and therefore though his bands were loosed, he did not once wag from his place. He might have gone away if he had been so disposed: why doth he not? Was it because he contemned the grace of God? or because through his slothfulness he will make the miracle frustrate? None of all these is probable: whence we gather that he was holden by God: as the Lord useth to direct the minds of those which be his in doubtful matters, that they may follow sometimes ignorantly, sometimes wittingly, that which is expedient to be done, and not pass their bounds.

27 when the keeper of the prison was awaked. He would haue slaine himself, that he might preuent punishment, For it had been a foolish answer to haue said that the dores were opened of their owne accord. But this question may be asked. Seing that Paul seeth that they might haue som hope to escape if he should slea himself, why doth he hinder him: for he seemeth by this means to refuse the diliuerāce which was offred by god: yea it seemeth to haue bin a meer toy, in that the Lord would haue the Iailer awaked, least there should be any vse of the myracle. I answer, that