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…

13 To the end it may more plainly appear that the Apostleship of Paul was confirmed by those miracles whereof mention was made of late: Luke doth now teach that when certain did falsely pretend the name of Christ, such abuse was most sharply punished. Whereby we gather that such miracles were wrought by the hand of Paul to no other end, save only that all men might know that he did faithfully preach Christ to be the power of God: forasmuch as the Lord did not only ⟨p. 462⟩not suffer them to be separate from the pure doctrine of the Gospel: but did so sharply punish those who did draw them preposterously unto their enchantments: whence we gather again, that whatsoever miracles do darken the name of Christ, they be juggling castes of the devil: and that those be cozeners and falsifiers, who draw the true miracles of God to any other end, save only that true religion may be established.

13 To the end it may more plainely appeare that the Apostleship of Paul was confirmed by those miracles whereof mention was made of late: Luke doth nowe teach that when certaine did falsely pretend the name of Christ, such abuse was most sharply punished. Whereby we gather that such miracles were wrought by the hande of Paul to no other end, saue onely that all men might knowe that he did faithfully preach Christ to bee the power of God: forasmuch as the Lorde did not onely ⟨p. 462⟩not suffer them to bee seperate from the pure doctrine of the Gospel: but did so sharpely punish those who did drawe them preposterouslie vnto their inchauntments: whence we gather againe, that whatsoeuer myracles doe darken the name of Christ, they be iugling castes of the diuell: and that those be cussoners and falsifiers, who draw the true miracles of God to any other ende, saue onely that true religion may be established.

Certain exorcists. I do not doubt but that this office did proceed of foolish emulation. God was wont to exercise his power diverse ways among the Jews: and he had used the Prophets in times past as ministers to drive away devils: under colour hereof they invented conjuration, and hereupon was erected unadvisedly an extraordinary function without the commandment of God. Also it may be that (God appointing it so to be) it did somewhat: not that he favoured it preposterously, but that they might more willingly retain the religion of their fathers until the coming of Christ. Under the reign of Christ, wicked ambition caused strife between the Christians and the Jews. For exorcists were made after the will of men: after that (as superstition doeth always wax worse and worse) the Pope would have this common to all his Clerks, who were to be promoted unto an higher degree. For after that they be made doorkeepers, forthwith the conjuring of devils is committed to them: and by very experience they set themselves to be laughed at. For they are in forced to confess that they give a vain title, and such as is without effect, for where is the power they have to conjure devils: and the very exorcists themselves do take upon them to their own reproach, an office which they never put in practice. But this falleth out justly, that there is no end of erring, when men depart from the word of God. As touching these men we gather that they were wandering rogues and such as went from door to door, of which sort we see many at this day in popery: for he saith that they went about. By which words he giveth us to understand that they went to and fro as occasion was offered them to deceive men.