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…

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.

6 Those men who haue troubled the whole worlde. This is the state of the Gospel, to haue those vprores which Satan raiseth, imputed to it. This is also the maliciousnes of the enimies of Christ, to lay the blame of tumults vpon holy and modest teachers, which they themselues procure. Assuredly the Gospel is not preached to this end that it may set men togither by the cares: but rather that it may keepe them in peace being reconciled to God. When Christ doth meekely wil vs there, to come vnto him, Satan and the wicked, rage. Therefore Paul and Silas might easily haue defended themselues: 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 vp quietly. And the Lord meant by their example to teach vs, that wee must not giue place to slanders & false reports, but we must stand stoutly in maintaining the truth, being readie to heare euill for things done well. Wherefore away with the peruerse wisedome of some, who to the end they may escape false slāders, cease not to betray Christ & his gospel through their trecherous 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.