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…

8 Going into the Synagogue. By this we gather that Paul began with the company of the godly, who had already given their names to Christ: Secondly, that he came into the Synagogue, that he might gather together into one body of the Church, the rest of the Jews who knew not Christ as yet, or at least who had not as yet received him. And he saith that Paul behaved himself boldly, that we may know that he was not therefore heard by the space of three months, because he did craftily cover the doctrine of the Gospel, or did insinuate himself by certain dark crooks. Luke doth also by and by express some token of boldness, showing that he disputed and persuaded touching the kingdom of God. And we know that by this word is oftentimes noted that restoring which was promised to the fathers, and which was to be fulfilled by the coming of Christ. For seeing that without Christ there is an evil favoured and confused scattering abroad and ruin of all things, the prophets did attribute this not in vain to the Messiah who was to come, that it should come to pass that he should establish the kingdom of God in the world: And now because this kingdom doth bring us back from falling and sliding back, unto the obedience of God, and maketh us sons of enemies: it consisteth first in the free forgiveness of sins, whereby God doth reconcile us to himself, and doth adopt us to be his people: secondly, in newness of life, whereby he fashioneth and maketh us like to his own image. He saith that he disputed and persuaded: meaning that Paul did so dispute, that he proved that with sound reasons, which he did allege: that done, he used the pricks of godly exhortations, whereby he pricked forward his hearers. For no profound disputations shall make us obedient to GOD, unless we be moved with godly admonitions.

8 Going into the Synagogue. By this we gather that Paul beganne with the companie of the godlie, who had alreadie giuen their names to Christ: Secondly, that he came into the Synagogue, that he might gather togither into one bodie of the Churche, the rest of the Iewes who knew not Christ as yet, or ar least who had not as yet receyued hym. And he saith that Paul behaued himselfe boldly, that we may know that hee was not therefore hearde by the space of three monethes, because he did craftily couer the doctrine of the Gospel, or did insinuate hymselfe by certaine darke crookes. Luke doth also by and by expresse some token of boldnesse, shewing that he disputed and perswaded touching the kingdome of God. And we knowe that by this word is oftentimes noted that restoring which was promised to the fathers, and which was to be fulfilled by the comming of Christ. For seeing that without Christ there is an euill fauoured and confused scattering abroade and ruine of all thinges, the prophetes did attribute this not in vaine to the Messias who was to come, that it should come to passe that he shoulde establish the kingdome of God in the worlde: And nowe because this kingdome doth bring vs backe from falling and slyding backe, vnto the obedience of God, and maketh vs sonnes of enimies: it consisteth first in the free forgiuenesse of sinnes, whereby God doth reconcile vs to himselfe, and doth adopt vs to bee his people: secondly, in newnesse of life, whereby hee fashioneth and maketh vs like to his owne image. He saith that he disputed and perswaded: meaning that Paule did so dispute, that he proued that with sound reasons, which he did alleadge: that done, he vsed the prickes of godlie exhortations, whereby he pricked forwarde his hearers. For no profounde disputations shal make vs obedient to GOD, vnlesse we bee mooued with godlie admonitions.