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…

19 They brought him to Mars street. Though this were a place appointed for judgement, yet Luke doth not mean that Paul was brought before the seat of the judges, that he might plead his cause before the judges of Mars street: But that he was brought thither, where was most commonly a great assembly of people, that the serious disputation might be had before a great and famous audience. And admit we grant that he was brought before the judgement seat: yet the end doeth declare that he was not presented to the judges, but that he had free liberty to speak as before an audience. And that which followeth shortly after touching the nature and conditions of the men of Athens, doth sufficiently declare that their curiosity was the cause, that Paul had such audience given him: that he had such a famous place granted him to preach Christ in: that so many came together. For in any other place it had bin a crime worthy of death, to speak in the market or in any other public place, having gathered a company of people together, but there because those who did carry about trifles, had liberty granted them to prate by reason of the immoderate desire they had to hear news: Paul was permitted to entreat of the mysteries of faith, being requested.

19 They brought him to Mars street. Though this were a place appointed for iudgement, yet Luke doth not meane that Paul was brought before the seat of the iudges, that he might plead his cause before the iudges of Mars street: But that hee was brought thither, where was most commonly a great assēblie of people, that the serious disputation might be had before a great and famous audience. And admit we graunt that he was brought before the iudgement seat: yet the end doeth declare that he was not presented to the iudges, but that hee had free libertie to speake as before an audience. And that which followeth shortly after touching the nature and conditions of the men of Athens, doth sufficiently declare that their curiositie was the cause, that Paul had such audience giuē him: that he had such a famous place granted him to preach Christ in: that so many came togither. For in any other place it had bin a crime worthy of death, to speake in the market or in any other publike place, hauing gathered a companie of people togither, but there because those who did carrie about trifles, had libertie granted thē to prate by reason of the immoderate desire they had to heare newes: Paul was permitted to intreat of the misteries of faith, being requested.