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…

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.

11 The wonderfull workes of God. Luke noteth two things which caused the hearers to wonder: first, because the Apostles being before ignorant and priuate persons, borne in a base corner, did notwithstanding intreat profoundly of diuine matters, and of heauenly wisedome. The other is, because they haue new tongues giuen them sodainly. Both thinges are worth the noting, because to huddle out words vnaduisedly and foolishly, should not so much haue serued to moue their minds, & the maiestie of the things ought the more to haue mooued them to consider the miracle. Although they giue due honor to God, in that that they are astonied and amased: yet the principall fruite of the miracle is expressed, in this that they enquire: and thereby declare that they are prepared to learne: for otherwise their amasednes and wondering should not haue done them any great good. And certainely wee must so wonder at the workes of God, that there must bee also a consideration, and a desire to vnderstand.

12 Others mocking. Hereby it appeareth how monstrous as well the sluggishness, as also the ungodliness of men is, when Satan hath taken away their mind. If God should openly and visibly descend from heaven, his majesty could scarce more manifestly appear, than in this miracle. Whosoever hath any drop of sound understanding in him, must needs be stricken with the only hearing of it. How beastly then are those men, who see it with their eyes, and yet scoff? and go about with their jests to mock the power of God? But the matter is so. There is nothing so wonderful, which those men do not turn to a jest, who are touched with no care of God: because they do even upon set purpose, harden themselves in their ignorance, in things most plain. And it is a just punishment of God, which he bringeth upon such pride: to deliver them to Satan to be driven headlong into blind fury. Wherefore there is no cause why we should marvel, that there be so many at this day so blind in so great light, if they be so deaf when such manifest doctrine is delivered, yea if they wantonly refuse salvation when it is offered unto them. For if the wonderful and strange works of God wherein he doth wonderfully set forth his power, be subject to the mocks of men: what shall become of doctrine, which they think tasteth of nothing, but of that which is common? Although Luke doth signify unto us that they were not of the worst sort, or altogether past hope, which did laugh & mock: but he meant rather to declare how the common sort was affected when they saw this miracle. And truly it hath been always so in the world, for very few have been touched with the true feeling of God, as often as he hath revealed himself. Neither is it any marvel: for religion is a rare virtue, and a virtue which few men have: which is in deed the beginning of understanding. Nevertheless howsoever the more part of men through a certain hard stiffneckedness, doth reject the consideration of the works of God, yet are they never without fruit. As we may see in this history.