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…

Being fervent in spirit he spake. Apollos hath another commendation given him in these words, that he was inflamed with an holy zeal to teach. Doctrine without zeal is either like a sword in the hand of a mad man, or else it lieth still as cold and without use, or else it serveth •or vain and wicked bo•sting. For we see that some learned men become slothful: othersome (which is worse) become ambitious: othersome (which is of all, the worst) trouble the church with contention and brawling. Therefore that doctrine shall be unsavoury, which is not joined with zeal. But let us remember that Luke putteth the knowledge of the Scripture in the first place, which must be the moderation of zeal, for we know that many are fervent without consideration; as the Jews did rage against the gospel, by reason of a perverse affection which they did bear toward the law: and even at this day we see how hot the papists be, who are carried headlong with furious violence, being pricked forward with an opinion unadvisedly conceived. Therefore let knowledge be present that it may govern zeal. And now it is said that zeal was the cause of diligence, because Apollos gave himself to teach diligently. But and if that man being not yet throughly & perfectly taught in the Gospel, did preach Christ so diligently and freely: what excuse do those men hope to have, who know that more perfectly and fully, which he knew not as yet, if they do not endeavour so much as in them lieth, to further and advance the kingdom of Christ. Luke doth attribute zeal to the spirit therefore, because it is a rare and peculiar ⟨p. 453⟩gift: neither do I so expound it that Apollos was moved and pricked forward with the instinct of his mind, but by motion of the holy Spirit.

Being feruent in spirite he spake. Apollos hath another commendation giuen him in these wordes, that he was inflamed with an holie zeale to teache. Doctrine without zeale is either like a sworde in the hande of a mad man, or els it lieth still as colde and without vse, or els it serueth •or vaine and wicked bo•sting. For wee see that some learned men become slouthful: othersome (which is worse) become ambitious: othersome (which is of al, the worst) trouble the church with contention and brawling. Therefore that doctrine shalbe vnsauery, which is not ioyned with zeal. But let vs remember that Luke putteth the knowledge of the Scripture in the first place, which must be the moderation of zeale, for we know that many are feruent without consideration; as the Iewes did rage against the gospel, by reason of a peruerse affection which they did beare toward the lawe: and euen at this day we see how whotte the papistes bee, who are carried headlong with furious violence, being pricked forward with an opinion vnaduisedly cōceiued. Therfore let knowledge be present that it may gouern zeale. And now it is said that zeale was the cause of diligence, because Apollos gaue himselfe to teach diligently. But and if that man being not yet throughly & perfectly taught in the Gospel, did preach Christ so diligently and freely: what excuse doe those men hope to haue, who know that more perfectly and fullie, which he knew not as yet, if they doe not indeuour so muche as in them lieth, to further and aduaunce the kingdome of Christ. Luke doth attribute zeale to the spirite therefore, because it is a rare and peculiar