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…

31 As they sought to kill him. Assuredly the force of satan appeareth therein, in that he driveth the people headlong into such rage, that when they have shut the doers of the Temple, being not content with mean punishment, they conspire to put Paul to death. We must thus think with our selves, that Satan doth prick forward the enemies of godliness, least their rage how cruel and troublesome so ever it be, trouble us. On the other side appeareth the wonderful goodness of God, when as he raiseth up the chief captain at a sudden, that he may deliver Paul from death. He himself thought upon no such thing, but he came to appease the tumult which was raised among the people: but the Lord showeth a more evident token of his providence, because Paul his life was delivered from such present danger without mans counsel. Thus doth he suffer the faithful not only to labour, but to be almost oppressed, that he may deliver them from death more wonderfully. Luke calleth him the chief captain of the band improperly, seeing every chief captain was set over a thousand: which doth also appear by the text, where he saith that the chief captain took with him undercaptaines.

31 As they sought to kill him. Assuredly the force of satan appeareth therein, in that he driueth the people headlong into such rage, that whē they haue shut the doares of the Temple, being not content with meane punishment, they conspire to put Paul to death. Wee must thus thinke with our selues, that Sathan doth pricke forward the enimies of godlinesse, least their rage how cruell and troublesome so euer it be, trouble vs. On the otherside appeareth the wonderfull goodnes of God, when as he raiseth vp the chiefe captaine at a sodaine, that hee may deliuer Paul from death. He himselfe thought vpon no such thing, but he came to appease the tumult which was raised among the people: but the Lord sheweth a more euident token of his prouidence, because Paul his life was deliuered from such present danger without mans counsell. Thus doth he suffer the faithful not only to labor, but to be almost oppressed, that hee may deliuer them from death more wonderfully. Luke calleth him the chiefe captaine of the band improperly, seing euery chiefe captain was set ouer a thousand: which doth also appeare by the text, where he saith that the chiefe captaine tooke with him vndercaptaines.