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…

8 Tell me. We see that God doeth not by and by punish her, but first he trieth the matter throughly: least he should send vengeance upon any save the obstinate, & those which will not be pardoned. For although Sapphira did know that the matter was hidden, she ought to have been stricken with this question of Peter, no otherwise than if she had ben cited to appear before the judgement seat of God. She hath a time granted her to repent: yea this is as it were a pleasant inviting unto repentance. But she in holding on so carelessly, doeth declare that she was uncurable: because she is touched with no fear of God. And hereby are we taught to labour diligently to bring sinners into the way. For the spirit of God keepeth this moderation: but when as stubbornness and the stubborn contempt of God is added unto the offence, it is now high time to punish. Therefore those men are too arrogant who are displeased with the immoderate rigour of God. It is rather our duty ⟨p. 108⟩to consider how we shall in time to come stand before the judgement seat of God. Although this is too much to despise his holy power & majesty, if we will have him mocked freely without any punishment. Moreover, so many circumstances which before I have gathered, do sufficiently prove that Ananias and Sapphira were not worthy of one death only. For first of all hypocrisy is of it self very abominable to God: secondly whereas they are determined to lie unto God, this ariseth of great contempt in that they do not reverence & fear Christ being the chief governor of those amongst whom they were, it is ungodliness joined with impudency: because, so they can escape shame and reproach amongst men, before whom they were determined to vaunt & brag, they pass not to deny their manifest wickedness unto God. Whereas they do stubbornly deny their offence, this doth as it were, make up the heap and measure. And whereas innumerable hypocrites do no less mock God and the church daily, who notwithstanding are not punished with death, I have already showed why this ought to seem to be no inconvenient thing. For as much as God is the only judge of the world, it belongeth to him to punish every man at his pleasure, when & how it seemeth good to him. Wherefore we may not prescribe unto him a certain mean & manner of punishment.

8 Tell me. We see that God doeth not by and by punish her, but first he trieth the matter throughly: least he should send vengeance vpon any saue the obstinate, & those which will not be pardoned. For although Sapphira did know that the matter was hidden, she ought to haue bene striken with this question of Peter, no otherwise than if she had ben cited to appeare before the iudgement seat of God. She hath a time granted her to repent: yea this is as it were a pleasant inuiting vnto repentance. But shee in holding on so carelesly, doeth declare that shee was vncureable: because shee is touched with no feare of God. And heereby are wee taught to labour diligently to bring sinners into the way. For the spirite of God keepeth this moderation: but when as stubbernnesse and the stubberne contempt of God is added vnto the offence, it is now high time to punish. Therefore those men are too arrogant who are displeased with the immoderate rigour of God. It is rather our duetie