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…

17 Because it was to be doubted least being cast down with despair, they should refuse his doctrine, he doth a little lift them up. We must so temper our sermons that they may profit the hearers. For unless there be some hope of pardon left, the terror and fear of punishment doeth harden mens hearts with stubbornness. For that of David is true,¹ That we fear the Lord when we perceive that he is unto us favourable and easy to be pacified. Thus doth Peter lessen the sin of his nation, because of their ignorance. For it had been unpossible for them to have suffered and endured this conscience, if they had denied the son of God, and delivered him to be slain, wittingly, and willingly. And yet will he not flatter them, when as he saith, That they did it through ignorance: but he doth only somewhat mitigate his speech, least they should be overwhelmed and swallowed up of despair. Again we must not so take the words as if the people did sin simply of ignorance: for under this there did lie hid hypocrisy: but as wickedness or ignorance doth abound, the action is named of the one or the other. This is therefore Peter his meaning, that they did it rather through error & a blind zeal, than through any determined wickedness. But a question may be moved here, If any man have offended wittingly and willingly whether he shall surely fall into despair or no? I answer, that he doth not make mention in this place of all manner of sin, but only of the denying of Christ, & of the extinguishing of the grace of God, so much as in them did lie. If any man be desirous to know more concerning this,² he may read the first chapter of the first epistle to Timothy.

17 Because it was to be doubted least being cast down with despaire, they should refuse his doctrine, he doth a little lift them vp. We must so temper our sermons that they may profit the hearers. For vnlesse there be some hope of pardon left, the terrour and feare of punishment doeth harden mens heartes with stubbornesse. For that of Dauid is true,¹ That we feare the Lord when wee perceiue that he is vnto vs fauourable and easie to be pacified. Thus doth Peter lessen the sinne of his nation, because of their ignoraunce. For it had been vnpossible for them to haue suffered and endured this conscience, if they hadde denied the sonne of God, and deliuered him to be slaine, wittinglie, and willinglie. And yet wil he not flatter them, when as he saith, That they did it through ignorance: but he doth only somwhat mitigate his speech, least they should be ouerwhelmed and swallowed vp of despayre. Againe we must not so take the wordes as if the people did sin simplie of ignorance: for vnder this there did lie hid hypocrisie: but as wickednesse or ignoraunce doth abounde, the action is named of the one or the other. This is therefore Peter his meaning, that they did it rather through error & a blind zeal, than through any determined wickednesse. But a question may be moued here, If any man haue offended wittinglie and willinglie whether he shal surely fall into dispaire or no? I answere, that he doth not make mē tion in this place of all maner of sin, but only of the denying of Christ, & of the extinguishing of the grace of God, so much as in them did lie. If any man be desirous to know more concerning this,