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…

4 My life which I have led. He doeth not as yet enter into the state of the cause: but because he was wrongfully accused and burdened with many crimes, least king Agrippa should envy the cause through hatred of the person, he doeth first avouch his innocency. ⟨p. 590⟩For we know that when a sinister suspicion hath once possessed the minds of men, all their senses are so shut up, that they can admit nothing. Therefore Paul doeth first drive away the clouds of an evil opinion, which were gathered of false reports, that he may be heard of pure and well purged ears. By this we see that Paul was enforced by the necessity of the cause, to commend his life which he had lead before. But he standeth not long upon that point: but passeth over straightway unto the resurrection of the dead, when he saith, that he is a Pharisee. And I think that that is called the most straight sect, not in respect of holiness of life, but because there was in it more natural sincerity of doctrine, and greater learning. For they did boast that they knew the secret meaning of the scripture. And surely forasmuch as the Sadducees did vaunt that they did stick to the letter, they fell into filthy and gross ignorance, after they had darkened the light of the scripture. The Essenes contenting themselves with an austere and straight kind of life, did not greatly care for doctrine. Neither doth that any whit hinder, because Christ inveigheth principally against the Pharisees, as being the worst corrupters of the scripture.¹ For seeing they did challenge to them selves authority to interpret the scripture according to the hidden & secrete meaning: hence came that boldness to change and innovate, wherewith the Lord is displeased. But Paul doeth not touch those inventions, which they had rashly invented, and which they urged with tyrannous rigour. For it was his purpose to speak only of the resurrection of the dead. For though they had corrupted the law in many points: yet it was meet, that the authority of that sect should be of more estimation in defending the sound and true faith, then of the other which were departed farther from natural purity: Moreover Paul speaketh only of the common judgement, which did respect the colour of more subtle knowledge.

4 My life which I haue led. Hee doeth not as yet enter into the state of the cause: but because hee was wrongfully accused and burdened with many crimes, leaste kyng Agrippa shoulde enuie the cause through hatred of the person, hee doeth first auouch his innocencie.