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…

9 Now followeth the greatest wickedness of the nation of Israel: that they conspired together to oppress their innocent brother: which cruelty is contrary to nature. Neither could the Jews object that it was a private fault of a few: for the infamy reacheth unto all the people. For as much as all the patriarchs, Benjamin except, had polluted themselves with that treachery. Therefore in that Stephen vouchsafeth to give them an honourable name, that redoundeth to the greater reproach of the nation. They boasted proudly of their fathers, he showeth what manner persons the chief of them were: to wit, murderers of their brother, so much as in them laid. For besides that slavery was a kind of death, we know what they went about at the first, & secondly what cruel punishments Joseph suffered of all which his brethren were guilty. Hereby it appeareth that God was bountiful and merciful to those, which were as it were unwilling, & which did resist him. For him (who was about to be the author of health & help) would they have destroyed. Wherefore they did what they could to renounce all the benefits of God. So he will declare afterward that Moses was rejected, when he was offered of God to be a redeemer. Therefore the Jews have small cause to brag of the excellency of their kindred: but this alone remaineth for them, that being ashamed, they confess that whosoever they are they have the same through the mere mercy of God, and that they consider that the law was given to set forth the same.

9 Now followeth the greatest wickednesse of the nation of Israel: that they conspired together to oppresse their innocent brother: which crueltie is contrarie to nature. Neither coulde the Iewes obiect that it was a priuate fault of a few: for the infamie reacheth vnto all the people. For as much as all the patriarkes, Beniamin except, had polluted themselues with that treacherie. Therfore in that Steeuen vouchsafeth to giue them an honourable name, that redoundeth to the greater reproch of the nation. They boasted proudly of their fathers, hee sheweth what maner persons the chief of them were: to wit, murtherers of their brother, so much as in them laid. For besides that slauerie was a kinde of death, we know what they went about at the first, & secondly what cruel punishments Ioseph suffred of al which his brethren were giltie. Hereby it appeareth that God was bountiful and mercifull to those, which were as it were vnwilling, & which did resist him. For him (who was about to be the authour of health & help) would they haue destroyed. Wherfore they did what they could to renounce all the benefites of God. So he wil declare afterward that Moses was reiected, when he was offered of God to be a redeemer. Therfore the Iewes haue smal cause to brag of the excellencie of their kinred: but this alone remaineth for them, that beeing ashamed, they cōfesse that whosoeuer they are they haue the same thorow the meere mercie of God, and that they consider that the lawe was giuen to set foorth the same.