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…

When he came. The brethren foresaw this, who had already had experience thereof, when they exhorted him to address himself to that journey, which he had already in mind conceived. And whereas it is said that he helped the faithful much, we may take it two ways: either that he helped those who were not so well furnished, and that he did support them to beat down the pride of their enemies: for every man was not able to have weapon in readiness, to undertake a hard combat against old enemies, who would never have yielded unless ⟨p. 454⟩they had been enforced: or that he aided them least their faith should fail being shaken with the gainsaying of the enemies: which thing doth oftentimes befall the weak. I take it that they were holpen both ways: that having a skilful and practised captain, they gate the victory in the conflict. Secondly, that their faith was fortified with a new prop, that it might be without danger of wavering Furthermore Luke seemeth to note that the brethren were holpen with this stoutness and constā city, when as he saith, that he disputed publicly with the Jews. For this was a sign of zeal and boldness, not to fly the light. Whereas in the end of the sentence, these words are used, through grace: it doth either agree with the word going before, they believed: or else it must be referred unto the help wherewith he helped the brethren. The former interpretation is nothing hard. For the meaning thereof shall be this, that the faithful were illuminate by the grace of God, that they might believe as if he had said: The brethren who were already called by the benefit of God unto faith, were furthered. Yet the other text seemeth to agree better, that Apollos in imparting that grace which he had received, with the brethren, did help them. So that, through grace, shall import as much, as according to the measure of the grace received.

When he came. The brethren forsawe this, who had alreadie had experience thereof, when they exhorted him to addresse himselfe to that iourney, which he had alreadie in minde conceiued. And whereas it is saide that he helped the faithfull much, wee may take it two wayes: eyther that he helped those who were not so well furnished, and that hee did support them to beat downe the pride of their enemies: for euery man was not able to haue weapon in readinesse, to vndertake a harde combate against old enemies, who woulde neuer haue yeelded vnlesse ⟨p. 454⟩