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…

22 Men of Athens. We may divide this Sermon of Paul into five members. For though Luke doth only briefly touch those things which he set down in many words: yet I do not doubt but that he did comprehend the sum: so that he did omit none of the principal points. First Paul layeth superstition to the charge of the men of Athens, because they worship their gods at all a very venture: secondly he showeth by natural arguments, who and what God is, and how he is rightly worshipped. Thirdly, he inveigheth against the blockishness of men: who though they be created to this end, that they may know their creator and maker, yet do they wander and err in darkness like blind men. Fourthly, he showeth that nothing is more absurd than to draw any portraiture of God, seeing that the mind of man is his true image: in the first place he descendeth at length unto Christ and the resurrection of the dead. For it was requisite to handle those four points generally, before he did descend unto the faith of the Gospel.

22 Men of Athens. We may diuide this Sermon of Paul into fiue members. For though Luke doth onlie briefly touch those things which he set downe in many words: yet I do not doubt but that he did comprehend the summe: so that he did omit none of the principall points. First Paul layeth superstition to the charge of the men of Athens, because they worship their gods at all a very venture: secondly he sheweth by naturall arguments, who and what God is, and how he is rightly worshipped. Thirdly, he inueigheth against the blockishnesse of men: who thogh they be created to this end, that they may knowe their creator and maker, yet doe they wander and erre in darknesse like blind men. Fourthly, he sheweth that nothing is more absurd than to draw anie purtrature of God, seeing that the mind of man is his true image: in the first place he descendeth at length vnto Christ and the resurrection of the dead. For it was requisit to handle those foure points generally, before he did descend vnto the faith of the Gospel.

As it were more superstitious. The Grecians do oftentimes take deisidaimoniā in good part: notwithstanding it doth sometimes signify immoderate fear, wherewith superstitious men do carefully torment themselves, whiles that they forge to themselves vain doubts. And this seemeth to be the meaning of this place, that the men of Athens pass all measure in worshipping god, or that they do not perceive what manner work moderation should be: as if he should say, that they deal very undiscretly in that they weary them selves in going by ways, thus much touching the words: now to the matter. He proveth by this one reason that all the worshippings of the men of Athens are corrupt: because they be uncertain what gods they ought to worship, because they take in hand rashly and unadvisedly divers rites, and that without measure. For in that they had set up an altar to the unknown God, it was a token that they knew no certainty, they had in deed a great company of gods whereof they spake much: but when as they mix them with unknown gods, they confess by this that they know nothing of the true divinity. Furthermore, whosoever doth worship god without any certainty, he worshippeth his own inventions in steed of God. Howsoever credulous men do flatter themselves: yet neither doth god allow any religion without knowledge and truth, neither ought it to be counted holy and lawful. Yea how proud soever they be, yet because they doubt in their consciences, they must needs be convict by their own judgement. For superstition is always fearful, & doth ever now & then coin some new thing therefore we see how miserable their condition is, who have not the certain