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 When this was noised abroad. Luke saith thus in Greek, This voice being made, but his meaning is that the fame was spread abroad, whereby it came to pass that a great multitude came together. For if one after another in diverse places, and at diverse times had heard the Apostles speaking in diverse tongues, the miracle had not been so famous. Therefore they come all together into one place, that the diversity of tongues may the better appear by the present comparison. There is a further circumstance also here to be noted, that the Country and native foil of the Apostles was commonly known, and this was also commonly known that they never went out of their Country, to learn strange tongues. Therefore forasmuch as one speaketh Latin, another Greek, another the Arabian tongue, as occasion was offered, and that indifferently, and every one doth also ⟨p. 32⟩change his tongue, the work of God appeareth more plainly hereby.

6 When this was noysed abroad. Luke saith thus in Greeke, This voice being made, but his meaning is that the fame was spread abroad, whereby it came to passe that a great multitude came togither. For if one after another in diuerse places, and at diuerse times had heard the Apostles speaking in diuerse tongues, the miracle had not beene so famous. Therefore they come all togither into one place, that the diuersitie of tongues may the better appeare by the present comparison. There is a further circumstance also heere to bee noted, that the Countrie and natiue foyle of the Apostles was commonly knowne, and this was also commonlie knowne that they neuer went out of their Countrie, to learne straunge tongues. Therefore forasmuch as one speaketh Latine, another Greeke, another the Arabian tongue, as occasion was offered, and that indifferentlie, and euerie one doth also ⟨p. 32⟩chaunge his tongue, the worke of God appeareth more plainelie hereby.

11 The wonderful works of God. Luke noteth two things which caused the hearers to wonder: first, because the Apostles being before ignorant and private persons, borne in a base corner, did notwithstanding entreat profoundly of divine matters, and of heavenly wisdom. The other is, because they have new tongues given them suddenly. Both things are worth the noting, because to huddle out words unadvisedly and foolishly, should not so much have served to move their minds, & the majesty of the things ought the more to have moved them to consider the miracle. Although they give due honour to God, in that that they are astonied and amazed: yet the principal fruit of the miracle is expressed, in this that they enquire: and thereby declare that they are prepared to learn: for otherwise their amazedness and wondering should not have done them any great good. And certainly we must so wonder at the works of God, that there must be also a consideration, and a desire to understand.