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…

1 And when they had journeyed through Amphipolis and Appolonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a Synagogue of the Jews. 2 And as his manner was, Paul entered in unto them, & three Sabbaths disputed with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging that Christ must have suffered and rise again from the dead: and that this is Christ, whom, saith he, I preach to you. 4 And certain of them believed, and were joined to Paul and Silas, & of religious Grecians a great multitude, and of chief women not a few.

1 ANd when they had iourneyed through Amphipolis and Appolonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a Synagogue of the Iewes. 2 And as his maner was, Paul entred in vnto them, & three Sabbothes disputed with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleaging that Christ must haue suffred and rise againe from the dead: and that this is Christ, whom, saith he, I preach to you. 4 And certaine of them beleeued, and were ioyned to Paule and Silas, & of religious Grecians a great multitude, and of chiefe women not a few.

1 They came to Thessalonica. We know not why Paul attempted nothing at Amphipolis & Apollonia, which were notwithstanding famous cities, as appeareth by Pliny: save only because he followed the spirit of God as his guide: & took occasion by the present matter, as occasion was offered, to speak or hold his peace: & peradventure he did also assay to do some good there, but because it was without any good success, therefore Luke passeth over it. And whereas being beaten at Philippos, & scarce escaping out of great danger, he preacheth Christ at Thessalonica, it appeareth thereby how courageous he was to keep the course of his calling, and how bold he was ever now & then to enter into new dangers. This so invincible fortitude of mind, & such patient enduring of the cross, do sufficiently declare, that Paul laboured not after the manner of men, but that he was furnished with the heavenly power of the spirit. And this was also wonderful patience in him, in that entering in unto the Jews whose unbridled frowardness he had so often tried, he proceedeth to procure their salvation But because he knew that Christ was given to the Jews for salvation, & that he himself was made an Apostle upon this condition, that he should preach repentance & faith, first to the Jews & then to the Gentiles, committing the success of his labour to the Lord, he obeyeth his commandment (though he had no great hope to do good.) He seemed before to have taken his last farewell of the Jews, when he said, It was behoveful that the kingdom of god should be first preached to you: but because ye receive it not, behold we turn to the Gentiles: but that harder sentence must be restrained to that company, who had wickedly rejected the Gospel when it was offered unto them, & made themselves unworthy the grace of God. And toward the nation it self, Paul ceaseth not to do his embassage: by which example we be taught, that we ought to make so great account of the calling of God, that no unthankfulness of men may be able to hinder us, but that we proceed to be careful for their salvation, so long as the Lord appointeth us to be their ministers. And it is to be thought that even now there were some who on the first sabb[…] refused sound doctrine, but their frowardness did not hinder him, but that he came again upon other Sabbaths.