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…

Whereby it appeareth, that this only was Christ his drift, to keep back his, first from all indignation, secondly from speaking any thing in despite of any man. Therefore let us beware of railing, and then we may not only note in our brethren foolishlishnesse, but also it shall be I we full for us to express their offences by their names when need shall be. So Paul did not speak for his own sake, that he might with sharp words requite the injury done to him by the high priest: but because he was a minister of the word of god, he would not wink at an offence which did deserve sharp & serious reprehension: especially seeing it was profitable to bring to light the gross hypocrisy of Ananias. Therefore so often as we have any dealings with the wicked, if we be desirous to handle a good cause well, we must beware that there break out in us no motion of anger, that no desire of revenge provoke us to break out into railing. But if the spirit of meekness reign in us; we may handle the wicked according to their deserts, as it were out of the mouth of God: yet so that it may appear that we be rather prophets, then that we blunder out any thing rashly through immoderate heat.

Wherby it appeareth, that this only was Christ his drift, to keep back his, first from al indignation, secondly from speaking any thing in despite of any man. Therefore let vs beware of railing, and then we may not only note in our brethren foolishlishnesse, but also it shall bee I we full for vs to expresse their offences by their names when need shall bee. So Paul did not speake for his owne sake, that he might with sharpe words requite the iniury done to him by the high priest: but bicause he was a minister of the word of god, he wold not wink at an offence which did deserue sharp & serious reprehension: especially seeing it was profitable to bring to light the grosse hypocrisie of Ananias. Therfore so often as we haue any dealings with the wicked, if we be desirous to handle a good cause well, we must beware that there breake out in vs no motion of anger, that no desire of reuenge prouoke vs to breake out into railing. But if the spirit of meeknes raigne in vs; we may handle the wicked according to their deserts, as it were out of the mouth of God: yet so that it may appeare that wee bee rather prophets, then that we blunder out any thing rashly through immoderate heat.