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…

14 They came to the chief priests. Seeing that the priests agree to such a wicked and ungodly conspiracy, by this they prove that there was in them neither any fear of God, neither yet any humanity. They do not only allow that which is brought before them concerning the murdering of the man by laying await: but also they are ready to be partners in the murder, that they may deliver him into the hands of the murderers, whom they would have made away some way, they pass not how. For what other thing was it to take a man out of the hands of the judge and to slay him, then like murderers to rage even in the very place of judgement? The priests surely would never have allowed such a wicked purpose if there had been in them any drop of godly and right affection, or of humane feeling. Moreover they did what they could to bring destruction upon all the people and themselves also. But the Lord did by this means disclose their wicked impiety, which lay hid under a colour of honour.

14 They came to the chiefe priestes. Seeing that the priests agree to such a wicked and vngodly conspiracie, by this they proue that there was in them neither any feare of God, neither yet any humanitie. They doe not only allowe that which is brought before them concerning the murthering of the man by laying awaite: but also they are readie to be partners in the murder, that they may deliuer him into the handes of the murtherers, whom they woulde haue made away some way, they passe not howe. For what other thing was it to take a man out of the handes of the iudge and to slea him, then like murtherers to rage euen in the very place of iudgement? The priests surely would neuer haue alowed suche a wicked purpose if there had been in them any droppe of godly and right affectiō, or of humane feeling. Moreouer they did what they could to bring destruction vpon all the people and themselues also. But the Lord did by this means disclose their wicked impietie, which lay hid vnder a colour of honour.

16 Paul his sisters son. We see in this place how the Lord doth cross the purposes of the ungodly. He permitteth them to attempt many things, and he suffereth their wicked endeavours, but at length he showeth even in the twinkling of an eye that he doth from heaven deride whatsoever men go about upon earth. There is no wisdom, sayeth Solomon, there is no counsel against the Lord. Whereto, that of Isaiah doth answer, Take counsel together,