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 For I know. Paul doth now exhort the Ephesians to watch diligently, by the necessity which is a most sharp prick. For he saith that grievous wolves are ready to invade the sheepfold. This is a thing always incident to the Church to be hated of wolves. Wherefore there is no time to sleep. But the moe and the more hurtful those be who break in, the more watchful must the Pastors be. For God doth sometimes release some part of trouble, that the flock may be fed quietly and peaceably: and as when the weather is fair & clear the sheep are fed more safely in the fields, and there is more danger when the air is cloudy & dark: so the Church of God hath sometimes some fair weather granted to it, after that cometh a troublesome time, which is more fit for the subtlety of the wolves. Therefore Paul doth mean, that it standeth them upon to be more watchful than they have bin hitherto, because greater dangers hang over their heads. But the question is how Paul knew this. First we need not doubt of this, but that his presence was of great force to drive away wolves, & no marvel if the power of the spirit which shineth in the ministers of Christ do bridle the wicked so, that they dare not utter their poison: yea if that heavenly light do drive away much darkness of Satan. Therefore seeing that Paul did know that the malice of satan was kept under for a time by his industry, he doth easily foretell what will happen after his departure, though it be likely he was certified by the lord through the spirit of prophecy, that others might be admonished by him, as we see it came to pass. Howsoever it be, so often as faithful Pastors go away, let ⟨p. 448⟩us learn that we must beware of wolves; whom they can hardly drive from the sheepcotes though they watch most narrowly.

29 For I know. Paul doth now exhort the Ephesians to watch diligenly, by the necessity which is a most sharp pricke. For he saith that grieuous wolues are readie to inuade the sheepefold. This is a thing alwayes incident to the Church to be hated of wolues. Wherefore there is no time to sleepe. But the moe and the more hurtfull those be who breake in, the more watchful must the Pastors be. For God doth somtimes release som part of trouble, that the flocke may be fed quietly and peaceably: and as when the weather is faire & cleare the sheepe are fed more safely in the fields, and there is more danger when the aire is cloudy & darke: so the Church of God hath somtimes some faire weather granted to it, after that commeth a troublesome time, which is more fit for the subtiltie of the wolues. Therefore Paul doth meane, that it standeth them vpon to be more watchful than they haue bin hitherto, because greater dangers hang ouer their heads. But the question is how Paul knew this. First we need not doubt of this, but that his presence was of great force to driue away wolues, & no maruel if the power of the spirit which shineth in the ministers of Christ do bridle the wicked so, that they dare not vtter their poison: yea if that heauenly light do driue away much darknes of Satan. Therfore seing that Paul did know that the malice of satan was kept vnder for a time by his industry, he doth easily foretel what wil happē after his departure, thogh it be likely he was certified by the lord through the spirit of prophecy, that others might be admonished by him, as we see it came to passe. Howsoeuer it be, so often as faithful Pastours go away, let