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…

1 In this narration we must consider three things chiefly. That so soon as the truth of the Gospel doth once appear, Satan setteth himself ⟨p. 85⟩against the same on the other side so much as he is able, & attempteth all things that he may smoulder the same in the very first beginnings. Secondly that God doth furnish his children with unuincible force and strength, that they may stand steadfast and unmoveable against all assaults of Satan: and not yield unto the violence of the wicked. And last of all we must note the event and end, that howsoever the adversaries seem to bear the chiefest swing, & they themselves do omit nothing which may serve to blot out the name of Christ: and on the other side howsoever the ministers of sound doctrine be as sheep in the mouths of wolves: yet doth god spread abroad the kingdom of his son, he fostereth the light of the gospel which is lighted, & he is the protector of his children. Therefore so often as the doctrine of the Gospel ariseth, and divers motions do rise on the other side, and the course thereof is letted divers ways, there is no cause why godly minds should faint or quail as at some unwonted thing: but they ought rather to remember that these are the ordinary endeavours of Satan, so that we must think upon this well, before it come to pass, that it cannot otherwise be, but that Satan will spue out all his might & main, so often as Christ doth come abroad with his doctrine. And therewithal let us consider that the constancy of the apostles is set forth unto us for an example, least being overcome either with any perils, or threatenings, or terrors, we leap back from that profession of faith which the Lord requireth at our hands. And moreover, let us comfort our selves with this, that we need not to doubt but that the Lord will give prosperous success when we have done our duty faithfully.

1 In this narration we must consider three things chiefly. That so soone as the truth of the Gospel doth once appeare, Satan setteth himself ⟨p. 85⟩against the same on the other side so much as he is able, & attēpteth all thinges that he may smoulder the same in the verie first beginnings. Secondly that God doth furnish his children with vnuincible force and strength, that they may stande stedfast and vnmoueable against all assaultes of Satan: and not yeeld vnto the violence of the wicked. And last of all we must note the euent and end, that howsoeuer the aduersaries seem to beare the chiefest swindge, & they themselues do omit nothing which may serue to blot out the name of Christe: and on the other side howsoeuer the ministers of sound doctrine be as sheep in the mouths of wolues: yet doth god spread abroad the kingdome of his sonne, he fostereth the light of the gospel which is lighted, & he is the protector of his children. Therefore so often as the doctrine of the Gospell ariseth, and diuers motions do rise on the other side, and the course thereof is letted diuers waies, there is no cause why godly mindes should faint or quaile as at some vnwonted thing: but they ought rather to remēber that these are the ordinary endeuors of Satan, so that we must think vpon this wel, before it come to passe, that it cannot otherwise bee, but that Satan will spue out all his might & main, so often as Christ doth come abroad with his doctrine. And therewithall let vs consider that the constancie of the apostles is set forth vnto vs for an example, least being ouercome either with any perils, or threatnings, or terrors, we leape back from that profession of faith which the Lord requireth at our hands. And moreouer, let vs cōfort our selues with this, that wee need not to doubt but that the Lord wil giue prosperous successe whē we haue done our duty faithfully.