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…

21 They went about to kill me. He complaineth in this place of the iniquity of his adversaries, that it may thereby appear that their cause and conscience were both evil. For if Paul had offended they might have gone to law with him: and even there should they have stand in better state, seeing they did far pass him both in favour and authority. Therefore their madness doeth testify that they are destitute of reason. Whereas Paul sayeth that he was saved by the help of God, it maketh for the confirmation of his doctrine. ⟨p. 568⟩For how is it that he reacheth out his hand to help him, save only because he acknowledgeth his minister, and because he will defend the cause which he alloweth? Moreover, this ought to have encouraged him to go forward so much the more boldly in his office, in that he was thus holpen by God. For it had been a point of an unthankful man to withdraw himself from him which had holpen him. By which example we be taught that so often as we be delivered from danger, the Lord doeth not therefore prolong our days, that we may afterward live idly: but that we may do our duty cheerfully, and be ready to die every hour to his glory, who hath reserved us to himself. And yet Paul did not forget how much he was indebted to the chief captain, but in this place he commendeth the help of God, that he may show that it became him to spend all the rest of his course in his service, by whom he was delivered: though that came to pass, and were done through the industry and by the hand of man.

21 They went about to kill mee. Hee complaineth in this place of the iniquitie of his aduersaries, that it may thereby appeare that their cause and conscience were both euill. For if Paul had offended they might haue gone to lawe with hym: and euen there shoulde they haue stande in better state, seeing they did farre passe him both in fauour and authoritie. Therefore their madnesse doeth testifie that they are destitute of reason. Whereas Paule saieth that hee was saued by the helpe of God, it maketh for the confirmation of his doctrine. ⟨p. 568⟩For how is it that he reacheth out his hand to help him, saue onely because he acknowledgeth his minister, and because hee will defende the cause which hee alloweth? Moreouer, this ought to haue encouraged him to goe forwarde so much the more boldly in his office, in that hee was thus holpen by God. For it had been a point of an vnthankfull man to withdraw himselfe frō him which had holpen him. By which example we be taught that so often as we be deliuered from danger, the Lord doeth not therefore prolong our dayes, that wee may afterwarde liue idlie: but that we may doe our dutie cheerefully, and bee readie to die euery houre to his glory, who hath reserued vs to himselfe. And yet Paul did not forget howe muche hee was indebted to the chiefe captaine, but in this place hee commendeth the helpe of God, that hee may shewe that it became him to spende all the rest of his course in his seruice, by whome hee was deliuered: though that came to passe, and were doone through the industrye and by the hande of man.