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…

And many wonders. This member serveth also to the showing of the cause. For the miracles served to make them afraid together with other works of God: although this was not the only reason, but one of many, why they were afraid to set themselves against God, who was on that side, as they did gather by the miracles: whence we gather that they are not only profitable for this, to bring men to God, but also to make the wicked somewhat more gentle, and that they may tame their furiousness. Pharaoh was a man of desperate stubbornness,¹ and yet we see how miracles do sometime pierce his obstinate heart. He forgetteth them by and by, but when the hand of God is heavy upon him, he is compelled through fear to yield. To be brief, Luke teacheth that the Jews were by this means kept back, that the Church which might easily have been destroyed, might have got up her head. Which thing we have oftentimes tried even in our time. And he doth not only declare that they were bridled with fear, least they should be so bold as to attempt so much as they lusted to do hurt to the Church, but that they were also humbled with reverence to the glory of the Gospel.

And many woonders. This member serueth also to the shewing of the cause. For the miracles serued to make them afraide togither with other workes of God: although this was not the onely reason, but one of many, why they were afraid to set themselues against God, who was on that side, as they did gather by the myracles: whence wee gather that they are not onely profitable for this, to bring men to God, but also to make the wicked somewhat more gentle, and that they may tame their furiousnesse. Pharao was a man of desperate stubbernes,¹ and yet wee see how miracles doe sometime pearce his obstinate heart. He forgetteth them by and by, but when the hand of God is heauie vppon him, hee is compelled through feare to yeelde. To bee briefe, Luke teacheth that the Iewes were by this meanes kept backe, that the Church which might easilie haue beene destroied, might haue got vp her heade. Which thing wee haue oftentimes tried euen in our time. And he doth not onely declare that they were bridled with feare, least they shoulde bee so bolde as to attempt so much as they lusted to doe hurt to the Church, but that they were also humbled with reuerence to the glorie of the Gospel.