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…

14 We have heard. It shall full well appear by Stephens defence, that he never spake any thing touching Moses or the Temple without reverence. And yet notwithstanding this was not laid to his charge for nothing. For he had taught the abrogating of the Law. But they are false witnesses in this, and suborned to lie, because they corrupt purposely those things which were well and godly spoken. So Christ was enforced to clear himself, that he came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfil the Law, because when he had preached ⟨p. 134⟩of abrogating the Ceremonies, the wicked wrested this unto an other purpose, as if he meant to abolish and take away the whole Law. Furthermore they wrested that wickedly unto the Temple of Jerusalem, which he spake of his body. What? was it not objected to Paul that he taught That evil is to be done, that good may come thereof? Therefore there is no cause why we should wonder at this day that that is so falsely misconstrued which we teach godlily, well and profitably. Yea we must rather persuade our selves thus, that the doctrine of the Gospel can never be handled so warily and moderately, but that it shall be subject to false accusations. For Satan, who is the father of lying, doeth always bestir himself in his office. Again, because there be many things which are contrary to the reason of the flesh, men are inclined to nothing more, than to admit false reports, which corrupt the true and sincere sense of doctrine. This malice of Satan, and the sleights ought to make us more wary, and more circumspect, that no preposterous thing, or any thing that is unproperly spoken escape us, wherewith they may be armed to fight against us. For we must carefully cut off from the wicked that occasion whereat they snatch. And if we see that doctrine which is by us well and godlily delivered, corrupted, deformed and torn in pieces with false reports, we must not repent that we have begun, neither yet is there any cause why we should be more slack hereafter. For it is not meet that we should be free from the poisoned and venomous bitings of Satan: which the son of God himself could not escape. In the mean season it is our part and duty to dash and put away those lies wherewith the truth of God is burdened: like as we see Christ free the doctrine of the Gospel from unjust infamy.

14 We haue heard. It shall full well appeare by Stephens defense, that hee neuer spake any thing touching Moses or the Temple without reuerence. And yet notwithstanding this was not laide to his charge for nothing. For hee had taught the abrogating of the Lawe. But they are false witnesses in this, and suborned to lie, because they corrupt purposely those thinges which were well and godlilie spoken. So Christ was enforced to cleare himselfe, that hee came not to destroie the Lawe, but to fulfill the Lawe, because when hee had preached