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…

Why do they then arm the wicked, and conspire together with them to raise tumult? Why then do they also before a profane Magistrate bring the Gospel in that contempt, which might have redounded to the contempt of the Law? Such sedition doeth plainly declare, that they were moved with nothing less than with desire to please God, to be thus hot against Paul. For to what end do they beset Jason's house, and strive disorderly to pluck out Paul thence, save only that they may set him before the people to be stoned? Therefore let us know that wicked zeal, which is hot in superstitious men, is always infected with hypocrisy and malice. And this is the cause that it breaketh out into cruelty without keeping any measure.

Why doe they then arme the wicked, and conspire togither with them to raise tumult? Why then do they also before a prophane Magistrate bring the Gospel in that contempt, which might haue redounded to the contempt of the Lawe? Such sedition doeth plainely declare, that they were mooued with nothing lesse than with desire to please God, to bee thus hoat against Paul. For to what ende doe they beset Iasons house, and striue disorderlie to plucke out Paule thence, saue onelie that they may set him before the people to bee stoned? Therefore let vs knowe that wicked zeale, which is hoat in superstitious men, is alwayes infected with hypocrisie and malice. And this is the cause that it breaketh out into crueltie without keeping anie measure.

Taking to them certain vagabonds. The Greek word which Luke useth doth signify sluggards and men whereof there ought no account to be made, who having nothing wherewith they could keep themselves occupied at home, did run up and down idle: or bold fellows and hungry, who are ready to forswear themselves, to raise tumults and to be at one end of every wicked fact. Whereby it doeth likewise appear that their own consciences told them that they did amiss, seeing they gat wicked men to take their part and to give them their consent. For seeing the magistrate did favour them, what did move them to raise that tempest, save only because they had no hope to have any success unless matters should be out of order and all should be in an uproar? And Luke describeth how such fans did raise sedition: to wit, they gathered the people together in troupes, and spread abroad their poison here & there, until they were strong enough to make an assault: which policy is too common among seditious fellows, as those cities which are subject to this mischief do full well know.