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…

King Agrippa and Bernice, It is certain that this Agrippa was son to Agrippa the elder, whose filthy and detestable death was set down in the twelfth chapter. When this man was made king of Chalcis in his uncles steed after the decease of his father: he did afterward obtain a more large dominion. Bernice, of whom mention is made in this place, was his own natural sister, which was first married to Herod king of Chalcis her uncle, and did keep her self widow a certain season after his death, yet she did not live honestly & chastely during that time: for her too great familiarity with her brother Agrippa was suspected. And to the end she might not be counted an incestuous person, she married with Polemon king of Cilicia. Notwithstanding because she gave herself more to lust than chastity, she forsook him. The historiographers do no where say, that she was her brothers wife: and Josephus in his life assigneth her a dominion of her own in a part of Galilee. Therefore it is to be thought that forasmuch as they were hardened in their wickedness, they dwelt together not regarding what men did say: yet did they abstain from marriage, least their incestuous marriage should bewray and also augment their crime. Neither is it any marvel that he came for honours sake to salute the governor, who did reign only at the will and pleasure of another, and did depend upon the neck and favour of the Emperor of Rome, which he was to retain and nourish by means of the governor.

King Agrippa and Bernice, It is certaine that this Agrippa was sonne to Agrippa the elder, whose filthie and detestable death was set downe in the twelfth chapter. When this man was made king of Chalcis in his vncles steed after the decease of his father: hee did afterward obtaine a more large dominion. Bernice, of whom mentiō is made in this place, was his owne naturall sister, which was first married to Herod king of Chalcis her vncle, and did keep her self widdow a certaine season after his death, yet she did not liue honestly & chastly during that time: for her too great familiaritie with her brother Agrippa was suspected. And to the end she might not be counted an incestuous person, she married with Polemon king of Cilicia. Notwithstāding because she gaue herself more to lust than chastitie, she forsooke him. The historiographers doe no where say, that she was her brothers wife: and Iosephus in his life assigneth her a dominion of her owne in a part of Galilee. Therefore it is to be thought that forasmuch as they were hardened in their wickednesse, they dwelt together not regarding what men did say: yet did they abstain from marriage, least their incestuous marriage shoulde bewray and also augment their crime. Neither is it any maruell that hee came for honours sake to salute the gouernour, who did reigne only at the wil and pleasure of another, and did depend vppon the necke and fauour of the Emperour of Rome, which he was to retain and nourish by meanes of the gouernour.