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…

30 And the City was moved. We see in this place the vanity of the common people, which count Paul a condemned man before ever they hear him. Whereas the city is moved about godliness, it is no marvel: but this is a point of perverse zeal and mad rashness, in that they set themselves against Paul before they know his matter. For in this corruption of nature, frowardness is joined with foolishness: so that those will readily of their own accord make haste to maintain an evil cause, who can hardly be moved with many exhortations to do well. This is a hard case, that the whole world should be armed against us at a sudden through the persuasion of a few: but seeing it pleaseth the Lord it should be so, let every one of us prepare himself by this and such like examples to suffer all manner assaults and to bear and abide all brunts.

30 And the Citie was moued. Wee see in this place the vanitie of the common people, which count Paul a condemned man before euer they heare him. Whereas the citie is moued about godlines, it is no maruell: but this is a point of peruerse zeale and mad rashnes, in that they set themselues against Paule before they knowe his matter. For in this corruption of nature, frowardnes is ioined with foolishnes: so that those will readily of their owne accord make haste to maintaine an euil cause, who can hardly be moued with many exhortations to do well. This is a hard case, that the whole world should be armed against vs at a sodaine through the perswasion of a fewe: but seeing it pleaseth the Lorde it should bee so, let euery one of vs prepare himselfe by this and such like examples to suffer all manner assaults and to beare and abide albrunts.

31 And as they sought to kill him, it was told the captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was on an uproar. 32 Who took with him straightway soldiers and under captains, and ran down unto them. But they when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left smiting of Paul. 33 Then the chief captain drew near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and he asked what he was, and what he had done. 34 And some cried one thing and some another, among the people. And when he could not know the truth by reason of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the camp. 35 And when he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried of the soldiers, because of the violence of the multitude. 36 For the multitude of people followed crying, Away with him. 37 And when Paul began to be carried into the camp, he saith to the captain, May I speak to thee? who said canst thou speak Greek? 38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest into the wilderness four thousand men, which were murderers? 39 And Paul said, I verily am a man which am a Jew, borne in Tarsus, a citizen of no vile City of Cilicia. But I beseech thee suffer me to speak to the people.