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…

He commanded him to be smitten. We see that there was in this assembly great distemperature. For whereas the high Priest was in such rage that he commanded Paul to be smitten for nothing, he did it undoubtedly with the consent of all the rest: yea to the end he might win the favour of mad men. The Lord doeth suffer the wicked to be so carried away by Satan, that they fall from all show of equity and temperance. For hypocrites would fain bear some show of moderation: and undoubtedly this high Priest went about to pretend such gravity as did beseem his person. But the Lord did pluck this visor from his face, so that there was not found in him so much as the modesty of a mean man, but he poured out his furious force like a beast.

He commanded him to be smiten. We see that there was in this assembly great distemperature. For whereas the high Priest was in such rage that hee commaunded Paule to bee smiten for nothing, hee did it vndoubtedly with the consent of all the rest: yea to the ende hee might winne the fauour of madde men. The Lorde doeth suffer the wicked to be so carried away by Sathan, that they fall from all shew of equitie and temperance. For hypocrites woulde faine beare some shewe of moderation: and vndoubtedly this high Priest went about to pretende such grauitie as did beseeme his person. But the Lord did plucke this visure from his face, so that there was not founde in him so much as the modestie of a meane man, but hee powred out his furious force like a beast.

In the mean season we see what horrible and filthy disorder there was at that day in the Church. Ananias, who was the chief of the council, whereas he ought to have stayed others by his gravity: forgetting all modesty, he enforceth them unto violence and savageness. Therefore they had at that day no regard of discipline: but there remained among them confused barbarism. And no marvel for they had estranged themselves from God: they had most reproachfully rejected Christ: all their religion was set to sale: therefore it was meet that they should run headlong into furious madness, which might be loathsome even among profane men, that they might be punished in their own shame, for their ungodliness.