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…

2 Men, brethren, and fathers. Although Stephen saw that those which sate in the council were for the most part the sworn enemies of Christ, yet because the ordinary government of the people did belong to them, and they had the oversight of the church, which God had not as yet cast ⟨p. 138⟩of, therefore he is not afraid for modesties sake to call them fathers. Neither doth he flatteringly purchase favour hereby. But he giveth this honour to the order and government appointed by god, until such time as the authority should be taken from them, the order being altered. Nevertheless the reverence of the place which they had, doth not hinder him nor stop his mouth, but that he doeth freely dissent from them. Whereby it appeareth how ridiculous the papists are, who will have us so tied unto bare & vain invented titles, that they may enforce us to subscribe unto their decrees though they be never so wicked.

2 Men, brethren, and fathers. Although Steeuen saw that those which sate in the councell were for the most part the sworn enemies of Christ, yet because the ordinarie gouernment of the people did belong to thē, and they had the ouersight of the church, which God had not as yet cast ⟨p. 138⟩of, therefore hee is not afraide for modesties sake to call them fathers. Neither doth he flatteringly purchase fauour hereby. But he giueth this honour to the order and gouernment appointed by god, vntill such time as the authoritie shuld be taken from them, the order being altered. Neuerthelesse the reuerence of the place which they had, doth not hinder him nor stoppe his mouth, but that hee doeth freely dissent from them. Wherby it appeareth how ridiculous the papists are, who wil haue vs so tyed vnto bare & vain inuented titles, that they may enforce vs to subscribe vnto their decrees though they be neuer so wicked.

The God of glory. By this beginning he declareth that he doth not disagree or dissent from the fathers in true religion which they followed. For all religion, the worship of God, the doctrine of the law, all prophesies did depend upon that covenant, which God made with Abraham. Therefore when Stephen confessed that God appeared to Abraham, he embraceth the law and the prophets, which flow from that first revelation as from a fountain. Moreover he calleth him the god of glory, that he may distinguish him from the false and feigned Gods, who alone is worthy of glory.