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…

29 And all the city was full of confusion and they rushed into the common place with one consent, having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul his companions. ⟨p. 469⟩30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples would not suffer him. 31 And certain also of the chief of Asia which were his friends sent unto him, requesting him that he would not enter into the common place. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was out of order, and the more part knew not for what cause they came together. 33 And some of the company drew forth Alexander, the Jews thrusting him forward. And when Alexander had required silence with the hand, he would have excused the matter to the people. 34 Whom when they knew to be a Jew, there arose a shout of all men almost for the space of two hours, crying, great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29 And all the citie was full of confusion and they rushed into the cōmon place with one consent, hauing caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul his companions. ⟨p. 469⟩30 And when Paul would haue entred in vnto the people, the disciples would not suffer him. 31 And certain also of the chiefe of Asia which were his friends sent vnto him, requesting him that he would not enter into the common place. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assemblie was out of order, and the more part knew not for what cause they came togither. 33 And some of the companie drew forth Alexander, the Iewes thrusting him forward. And when Alexander had required silence with the hande, he woulde haue excused the matter to the people. 34 Whom when they knew to be a Iew, there arose a shout of all men almost for the space of two houres, crying, great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29 Luke setteth down in this place the nature of the people, as if it were depainted in a table. Like as if a thousand houses should be set on fire at a sudden: so all the City was on an uproar in one moment: and when such a tempest is once raised, it is not easily stayed. And forasmuch as the servants of Christ cannot avoid this mischief, they must be armed with invincible constancy, that they may boldly suffer the tumults raised among the people, and that they may not be troubled as with some new and strange matter, when they see that the people is unquiet. So Paul himself doth elsewhere triumph that he went valiantly through the midst of sedition.