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…

20 Certain Jews. This is an unperfect speech: yet the sense is pla•ne, that these men of Asia as it should seem, had caused a tumult without ⟨p. 546⟩cause, of whose absence he complaineth: as if he should say, Ye which lay so many things to my charge, cannot tell how the matter standeth: but you bring before the judgement seat of the governor a tale which was rashly believed. But those who are to be blamed for the matter, and who were as fans to set all on fire, appear not. After that Paul hath turned back the crime upon others, taking to himself a good courage, he doth now appeal unto the adversaries which are present, willing them if they know any thing by him, freely to utter it: though I dissent from Erasmus and the old interpreter in the participle stantos, for they translate it in the present tense: and they expound the word sunedrion or Council, of the sitting of the Governor, which I think, is far from Paul his meaning. For his meaning is in my judgement, that he was ready to give an account of all things in their council. And that they knew nothing then which they can lay to his charge: because they began to stir only for this one voice, when he said that he was judged of the resurrection of the dead: that is, that he suffered all this trouble for no other cause, save only because he did hope for the resurrection of the dead. Whereby it appeareth that they now coin a new accusation for no cause: because if there had been in him any fault, they would not have concealed it then. It is likely that they had farther talk, and that they came nearer together: because we shall see elsewhere that they did contend about Christ: but it was Luke his drift only to declare how well Paul had cleared himself of the false accusations of his accusers.

20 Certaine Iewes. This is an vnperfite speech: yet the sense is pla•ne, that these men of Asia as it should seeme, had caused a tumult without ⟨p. 546⟩cause, of whose absence he complaineth: as if he should say, Yee which lay so many things to my charge, cannot tell how the matter standeth: but you bring before the iudgement seat of the gouernour a tale which was rashly beleeued. But those who are to bee blamed for the matter, and who were as fannes to set all on fire, appeare not. After that Paul hath turned backe the crime vppon others, taking to himselfe a good courage, he doth nowe appeale vnto the aduersaries which are present, willing them if they know any thing by him, freely to vtter it: though I dissent from Erasmus and the olde interpreter in the participle stantos, for they translate it in the present tence: and they expound the worde sunedrion or Councel, of the sitting of the Gouernour, which I thinke, is farre from Paul his meaning. For his meaning is in my iudgement, that hee was readie to giue an account of all thinges in their councell. And that they knew nothing then which they can lay to his charge: because they began to sturre onely for this one voice, when he saide that he was iudged of the resurrection of the dead: that is, that hee suffered all this trouble for no other cause, saue onely because he did hope for the resurrection of the dead. Whereby it appeareth that they now coyne a newe accusation for no cause: because if there had bene in him any fault, they woulde not haue consealed it then. It is likelie that they had farther talke, and that they came nearer togither: because we shal see elsewhere that they did contende about Christ: but it was Luke his drift onely to declare howe well Paul had cleared himselfe of the false accusations of his accusers.