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…

12 When Gallio. Either the change of the deputy did encourage the Jews, to wax more proud and insolent: as froward men use to abuse new things, that they may procure some tumult: or else hoping that the judge would favour them, they brake the peace and silence at a sudden, which had continued one whole year. And the sum of the accusation is, that Paul went about to bring in a false kind of worship, contrary to the law. Now the question is, whether they spake of the law of Moses, or of the rites used in the empire of Rome. Because this latter thing seemeth to me to be cold, I do rather receive that, that they burdened Paul with this crime, that he brake & altered the worship prescribed in the law of God, & that to the end they might hit him in the teeth with novelty or innovation. And surely Paul had bin worthy to have bin condemned, if he had gone about any such thing: but forasmuch as it is most certain that they did treacherously & wickedly slander the holy man, they endeavoured to cover an evil cause with an honest excuse. We know how straitly the Lord commandeth in the law, how he will have his servants to worship him. Therefore to depart from that rule is sacrilege. But forasmuch as, Paul never meant to add too, or take away any thing from the law, he is unjustly accused of this fault. Whence we gather, that though the faith full behave themselves never so uprightly & blamelessly, yet can they not escape false & slanderous reports until they be admitted to purge them selves. But Paul was not only unworthily and falsely slandered by the adversaries: but when he would have refuted their impudency & false reports, his mouth was stopped by the deputy. Therefore he was enforced to depart from the judgement seat without defending himself. And Gallio refuseth to hear the cause, not for any evil will he bare to Paul, but because it was not agreeable to the office of the deputy to give judgement concerning the religion of every province. For though the Romans could not enforce the nations which were subject to them to observe their rites: yet least they should seem to allow that which they did tolerate, they forbade their magistrates to meddle with this part of jurisdiction. Here we see what the ignorance of true godliness doth, in setting in order the state of every common-wealth and dominion.

12 When Gallio. Either the change of the deputie did incourage the Iewes, to wax more proud and insolent: as froward men vse to abuse new things, that they may procure some tumult: or els hoping that the iudge would fauour them, they brake the peace and silence at a sodain, which had continued one whole yeere. And the summe of the accusation is, that Paul went about to bring in a false kind of worship, contrary to the law. Now the question is, whether they spake of the lawe of Moses, or of the rites vsed in the empire of Rome. Because this latter thing seemeth to me to be cold, I do rather receiue that, that they burdened Paul with this crime, that he brake & altered the worship prescribed in the law of God, & that to the end they might hit him in the teeth with noueltie or innouation. And surely Paul had bin worthy to haue bin condemned, if he had gon about any such thing: but for asmuch as it is most certain that they did trecherously & wickedly slander the holy mā, they indeuoured to couer an euill cause with an honest excuse. We know how straitly the Lord commandeth in the law, how he wil haue his seruants to worship him. Therefore to depart from that rule is sacrilege. But forasmuch as, Paul neuer meant to adde too, or take away any thing from the law, he is vniustly accused of this fault. Whence we gather, that thogh the faith ful behaue themselues neuer so vprightly & blamelesly, yet can they not escape false & slanderous reports vntil they be admitted to purge them selues. But Paul was not only vnworthily and falsly slandered by the aduersaries: but when he would haue refuted their impudencie & false reportes, his mouth was stopt by the deputie. Therfore he was inforced to depart frō the iudgement seat without defending himselfe. And Gallio refuseth to heare the cause, not for any euill will hee bare to Paul, but because it was not agreeable to the office of the deputie to giue iudgement concerning the religion of euery prouince. For though the Romās could not enforce the nations which were subiect to thē to obserue their rites: yet least they should seem to allow that which they did tollerate, they forbade their magistrates to meddle with this part of iurisdiction. Here we see what the ignorāce of true godlines doth, in setting in order the state of euery common-wealth and dominion.