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…

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.

Taking to them certaine vacabounds. The Greeke word which Luke vseth doth signifie sluggards and men whereof there ought no account to be made, who hauing nothing wherwith they could keep themselues occupied at home, did run vp and downe idle: or bold fellowes and hungrie, who are ready to forswere themselues, to raise tumults and to be at one end of euery wicked fact. Whereby it doeth likewise appeare that their owne consciences tolde them that they did amisse, seing they gat wicked men to take their part and to giue them their consent. For seing the magistrate did fauour them, what did moue them to raise that tempest, saue onely because they had no hope to haue any successe vnlesse matters should be out of order and all should be in an vprore? And Luke describeth how such fannes did raise sedition: to wit, they gathered the people togither in troupes, and spred abroad their poison here & there, vntill they were strong ynough to make an assault: which pollicie is too common among seditious fellowes, as those cities which are subiect to this mischiefe doe fulwel know.

6 Those men who have troubled the whole world. This is the state of the Gospel, to have those uproars which Satan raiseth, imputed to it. This is also the maliciousness of the enemies of Christ, to lay the blame of tumults upon holy and modest teachers, which they themselves procure. Assuredly the Gospel is not preached to this end that it may set men together by the cares: but rather that it may keep them in peace being reconciled to God. When Christ doth meekly will us there, to come unto him, Satan and the wicked, rage. Therefore Paul and Silas might easily have defended themselves: but it was requisite for them to suffer this false slander for a time: and so long as they were not heard, to put it up quietly. And the Lord meant by their example to teach us, that we must not give place to slanders & false reports, but we must stand stoutly in maintaining the truth, being ready to hear evil for things done well. Wherefore away with the perverse wisdom of some, who to the end they may escape false slanders, cease not to betray Christ & his gospel through their treacherous moderation: as though their good name were more precious than Pauls and such like: yea than the sacred name of God which is not free from blasphemies.