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…

5 For we found this man. Tertullus doth aim at a double mark. The first is this, that Paul may be delivered to the Jews, because they be very skilful in matters which concern the worship of God and the Law of Moses. But and if he deny this, he layeth to his charge a crime worthy of death, because he procured contention among the people. They knew that the Romans did hate nothing more: therefore they urge that the sorest against Paul. This doeth Tertullus amplify when he sayeth, that Paul had moved the Jews throughout the whole world. But I wonder why he addeth that he is the author or chief of the sect of the Nazarites: which we know was rather a praise than a dispraise among the Jews. I think that they mean not those who according to the old and lawful custom of the Law did consecrate themselves to God: but those troublesome murderers, who did also vaunt and boast that they were zealous men. Some think that Nazarites are here put for Christians: which may very well be. But if we like the former exposition better, he doeth craftily lay to Paul his charge that he was one of that sect which the Romans did hate. For where as these zealous men would above all other have been counted for notable observers of the Law, they ⟨p. 540⟩advanced a colour of zeal as a banner to stir up the minds of the common people. Nevertheless these good men who are so zealous over their liberty, do not spare the chiefest maintainers thereof, so they may cause Paul to be hated by means of them. They would have commended the Nazarites as courageous defenders of the Law, if it had not bin in this matter, but now, as if they did infect the whole world, they seek to bring upon Paul great reproach by saying that he is one of them. Moreover they slander Paul impudently, for no man did think that he was guilty of that crime. Therefore they lay to his charge no less wickedly than maliciously a crime which they take up at their foot and invent without all colour. But such is the careless security of hypocrites, that they think they may do whatsoever they will, so they colour their doings with zeal.

5 For wee founde this man. Tertullus dooth aime at a double marke. The first is this, that Paul may be deliuered to the Iewes, because they be very skilfull in matters which concerne the worship of God and the Lawe of Moses. But and if hee denie this, hee layeth to his charge a crime worthie of death, because hee procured contention among the people. They knewe that the Romanes did hate nothing more: therefore they vrge that the sorest against Paule. This doeth Tertullus amplifie when hee saieth, that Paul had moued the Iewes throughout the whole worlde. But I wonder why hee addeth that he is the authour or chiefe of the sect of the Nazarites: which we know was rather a praise than a dispraise among the Iewes. I thinke that they meane not those who according to the olde and lawfull custome of the Lawe did consecrate themselues to God: but those troublesome murtherers, who did also vaunt and boast that they were zealous men. Some thinke that Nazarites are heere put for Christians: which may verie well bee. But if wee like the former exposition better, hee doeth craftilie laye to Paule his charge that hee was one of that secte which the Romaines did hate. For where as these zealous men woulde aboue all other haue beene counted for notable obseruers of the Lawe, they