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…

Furthermore God meant to show such a token, that he might declare that his power is not included in the sound of the voice, & that it is not lawful superstitiously to abuse the name of his son. And when he suffereth Satan to deceive us, let us know that we be more sharply punished, then if he should wound us in the flesh For the false show & colour of miracles, is an horrible enchantment to bewitch and besot the unbelievers, that they may be drowned in deeper darkness, because they refused the light of God.

Furthermore God meant to shew such a token, that he might declare that his power is not included in the sound of the voice, & that it is not lawefull superstitiously to abuse the name of his sonne. And when hee suffereth Satan to deceiue vs, let vs know that we be more sharply punished, then if he should wound vs in the flesh For the false shew & colour of miracles, is an horrible inchantment to bewitch and befot the vnbeleeuers, that they may be drowned in deeper darknes, because they refused the light of God.

17 There came fear. The fruit of that vengeance which God brought upon those who did wickedly abuse the name of Christ is this, in that they were all touched with reverence, least they should contemn that doctrine, whose revenger the Lord had showed by an evident token & testimony he would be, and they were brought to reverence Christ. For besides that God doth invite us by all his judgements to come thus far, that they may terrify us from sinning: in this example peculiarly was the majesty of Christ set forth, and the authority of the gospel established, wherefore there is more heavy and grievous punishment prepared for deceivers, who with their enchantments profane the name of Christ wittingly, least they promise to themselves that they shall scape unpunished for such gross sacrilege. Whereas he saith that it was made known to all men, it signifieth as much, as commonly or every where. For his meaning is that the matter was much talked off among the people, to the end the name of Christ might be made known to mo men.

17 There came feare. The fruit of that vengeance which God brought vppon those who did wickedly abuse the name of Christ is this, in that they were all touched with reuerence, least they should contemn that doctrine, whose reuenger the Lord had shewed by an euident token & testimonie he would be, and they were brought to reuerence Christe. For besides that God doth inuite vs by all his iudgements to come thus farre, that they may terrifie vs from sinning: in this example peculiarly was the maiesty of Christ sette foorth, and the authoritie of the gospel established, wherefore there is more heauy and grieuous punishment prepared for deceiuers, who with their inchauntments profane the name of Christ wittingly, least they promise to themselues that they shall scape vnpunished for such grosse sacrilege. Whereas he saith that it was made knowne to all men, it signifieth as much, as commonly or euery where. For his meaning is that the matter was much talked off among the people, to the end the name of Christ might be made knowne to mo men.