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…

29 And Peter and the Apostles answering, said, We ought rather to obey God than men. 30 The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus, whom ye slue, hanging him upon a tree. 31 Him God hath lifted up with his right hand, to be a prince and a saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these^“ words: and the holy Ghost also, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33 And when they heard these things, they were cut in sunder, and would slay them.

29 And Peter and the Apostles answering, said, Wee ought rather to obey God than men. 30 The God of our fathers hath raised vp Iesus, whom ye slue, hanging him vpon a tree. 31 Him God hath lifted vp with his right hand, to be a prince and a sauiour, to giue repentance to Israel, and remission of sinnes. 32 And we are his witnesses of these^“ words: and the holy Ghost also, whom God hath giuen to them that obey him. 33 And when they heard these thinges, they were cut in sunder, and woulde slea them.

1. “Or things

29 This is the sum of their answer, It is lawful for them, nay they ought to prefer God before men. God commandeth us to bear witness of Christ: therefore it is in vain for you to command us to keep silence. But I have declared before in the third chap. when this sentence taketh place, that we ought rather to obey God than men: God doth set men over us in such sort with power, that he keepeth still his own authority safe & sound. Therefore we must obey rulers so far, that the commandment of God be not broken. Whereas power & authority is lawfully used, then it is out of season to make comparison between god & man. If a faithful pastor do command or forbid out of the word of god, it shall be in vain for men which are stubborn to object, that we ought to obey god. For god will be heard by man. Yea man is nothing else but an instrument of God. If a magistrate do his duty as he ought, a man shall in vain say that he is contrary to god, seeing that he dissenteth in nothing: yea rather the contrary rule is then in force. We must obey gods ministers & officers if we will obey him. But so soon as rulers do lead us away from the obedience of God, because they strive against God with sacrilegious boldness, their pride must be abated, that God may be above all in authority. Then all smokes of honour vanish away. For God doth not vouchsafe to bestow honourable titles upon men, to the end they may darken his glory. Therefore if a father being not content with his own estate, do assy to take from God the chief honour of a father, he is nothing else but a man. If a King, or Ruler, or Magistrate, do become so lofty, that he diminisheth the honour and authority of God, he is but a man. We must thus think also of Pastors. For he which goeth beyond his bounds in his office (because he setteth bimself against God) must be despoiled of his honour, least under a colour or visor he deceive. The office of a Pastor is very excellent, the authority of the Church is great, yet so that no part of Gods power and, Christs mastership be diminished. Whence we may easily gather that the pride of the