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…

9 And all the people saw. He beginneth now to declare the fruit of the miracle, to wit, that the cripple began to show his thankfulness, by praising God, and that all the people were brought into great wondering. And here is a double fruit. For he which was healed, doeth acknowledge and set forth the benefit of God, on the other side the people is moved, and the same is spread abroad, many come to see it. And where as Luke saith, that they were filled with wondering, it doth only declare a preparation, which a more full proceeding & going forward did at length follow. For it was necessary that they should go forward, because this their wondering had ferued to no end of it self, but did rather make them astonied and amazed, than bring them from their own proceedings unto God.

9 And all the people saw. He beginneth now to declare the fruit of the miracle, to wit, that the creeple began to shewe his thankfulnesse, by praising God, and that all the people were brought into great woondering. And heere is a double fruite. For hee which was healed, doeth acknowledge and set forth the benefite of God, on the other side the people is mooued, and the same is spread abroad, many come to see it. And where as Luke saith, that they were filled with woondring, it doth onely declare a preparation, which a more ful proceeding & going forward did at length follow. For it was necessary that they should go forwarde, because this their woondring had ferued to no ende of it selfe, but did rather make them astonied and amazed, than bring them from their owne proceedings vnto God.

Therefore it was as it were the foundation of the building which was to come, in that the people was touched with amazedness. For if we pass over the works of God contemptibly or carelessly, we shall never be able to profit by them. Furthermore this place doth teach us, what miracles do work of themselves in men: to wit, that they breed a confused amazedness. For although the Lord doth call us straightway unto himself by showing plainly his goodness and power there, yet such is the weakness of our nature that we stumble or faint in the midway, until such time as we be holpen by doctrine. Let us therefore learn reverently to consider the works of God, that the wondering at them, may make an entrance for doctrine. For when doctrine is cold and unprofitable with us, God doeth justly punish our unthankfulness by this means, because we have despised the glory of his works. Again because we are not so quick of sight, that we can see so much in the works of God alone, as is sufficient, let us learn to join therewithal the help of doctrine. To be brief, the one ought not to be separated from the other. Which thing experience doth sufficiently teach us. For hereby it came to pass that the world did so wickedly abuse miracles. The Papists do object unto us miracles again and again. Let us suppose that they be true, whereof they make such boast, yet do they