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…

3 And Peter said. Howe did Peter know Ananias his fraud and purloining? undoubtedly by the revelation of the Spirit. Therefore Luke signifieth unto us, that the Apostles did after a sort represent gods person, and supply his room. If the Spirit of God by the mouth of a ⟨p. 105⟩mortal man, do so sore urge an hypocrite, being otherwise painted with the beautiful colour of virtues, how shall the reprobate abide the voice of god himself, with the sound of the trumpet, when they shall appear before his judgement seat? Furthermore Peter pointeth out the cruelness and horribleness of the offence, by his question, when he saith, that Satan had filled the hart of Ananias. For there is no man whose hart is not pricked with the pricks of Satan: and all men are also many ways tempted, yea these temptations pierce into their minds: but where Satan possesseth the hart, he reigneth in the whole man, having as it were expelled God. This is a sign of a reprobate, to be so addicted and given over to Satan, that the Spirit of God hath no place. That which followeth afterward concerning lying, may have a double sense: either that he did falsely bear a show of the Spirit, or that he lied against the Spirit. And in deed it is word for word Mentiri Spiritum: but forasmuch as the Greek word Pseudesthai is joined with a double accusative case, & that doth better agree with the text, I am rather of this mind, that Ananias is reprehended, because he did lie falsely to the holy Ghost. Which he confirmeth shortly after, when he upbraideth this unto him, that he hath lied unto God and not unto men. Wherefore we must take great heed, that hypocrisy reign not in us: which hath this wickedness proper to it, to go about to deceive God, and as it were, cornicum oculos configere, to go about to make blind those which are most wise: which cannot be without a disloyal and unseemly mock. Wherefore it is not without cause that Peter sayeth, that where this cometh to pass, the heart is possessed of Satan. For who durst (unless he were void of reason) so blaspheme God? Therefore Peter asketh him as of some wonder: because such blindness is horrible.

3 And Peter saide. Howe did Peter knowe Ananias his fraude and purloigning? vndoubtedly by the reuelation of the Spirite. Therefore Luke signifieth vnto vs, that the Apostles did after a sort represent gods person, and supplie his roome. If the Spirite of God by the mouth of a ⟨p. 105⟩