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…

Therefore there can be nothing more unseemly, than that in a hot tumult, the judges should be set on fire with the people: but it falleth out so for the most part. Therefore when those officers saw the people up, they thought there was cause enough, why they should beat the apostles with rods. But now they are caused with shame and infamy to suffer punishment for their lightness. Peradventure also when they enquire of the beginning of the tumult, they find those who had deceived the people, in the fault: therefore when they had found out that Paul and Silas were innocent, they let them go, though too late. By which example those which bear rule are taught to beware of too much hast. Again we see, how carelessly Magistrates f••tter themselves in their own offences, which they know full well, they have committed, especially when they have to do with unknown and base persons. When these men grant free liberty to Paul and Silas to depart, they are not ignorant that they had before done them injury: yet they think it will be sufficient if they do not continue to do them injury still, and to be more cruel upon them. The apparitors are called Rabdouchoi, of the staves which they did bear: whereas the ensigns of the Sergeants were hatchets bound about with rods.

Therefore there can be nothing more vnseemely, than that in a whot tumult, the iudges should be set on fire with the people: but it falleth out so for the most part. Therfore whē those officers saw the people vp, they thought ther was cause enough, why they should beat the apostles with rods. But now they are caused with shame and infamie to suffer punishement for their lightnes. Peraduenture also when they enquire of the beginning of the tumult, they find those who had deceiued the people, in the fault: therefore when they had found out that Paul and Silas were innocent, they let them goe, though too late. By which example those which beare rule are taught to beware of too much hast. Againe we see, howe carelesly Magistrates f••tter themselues in their owne offences, which they know full well, they haue committed, especially when they haue to doe with vnknowen and base persons. When these men graunt free libertie to Paul and Silas to depart, they are not ignorant that they had before done them iniurie: yet they thinke it will be sufficient if they do not continue to do them iniurie still, and to bee more cruel vpon thē. The apparitors are called Rabdouchoi, of the staues which they did bear: wheras the ensignes of the Seargeants were hatchets bound about with rods.