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…

Least they should be increased. Erasmus translateth this unproperly, in my judgement. For Zoogoneisthai expresseth more than, Least their children should live. For the word is set thence, because the people doth always remain alive in the offspring. And furthermore, Stephen ⟨p. 148⟩doth not reckon up all the parts of their evil entreating: but putteth down one example of extreme cruelty. Whence we may easily gather how near the whole seed of Abraham was to destruction. For Pharaoh seemed to have murdered them all with that commandment as with one stroke of a sword. But such violent barbarism did the more set forth the unlooked for, and incredible power of God: because when Pharaoh hath by all means possible striven against God, yet all is in vain.

Least they should be encreased. Erasmus translateth this vnproperly, in my iudgement. For Zoogoneisthai expresseth more than, Least their children shoulde liue. For the worde is set thence, because the people doth alwayes remaine aliue in the ofspring. And furthermore, Steeuen ⟨p. 148⟩doth not reckon vppe all the partes of their euill intreating: but putterh downe one example of extreeme crueltie. Whence we may easily gather how neere the whole seed of Abraham was to destruction. For Pharao seemed to haue murthered them all with that commandement as with one stroke of a sword. But su•h violent barbarisme did the more set forth the vnlooked for, and incredible power of God: because when Pharao hath by all means possible striuen against God, yet all is in vaine.

20 All that time was Moses borne, who was acceptable to God. And he was brought up three months in his fathers house. 21 And the daughter of Pharaoh took him up when he was cast out: and nourished him up for her own son. 22 And Moses was taught in all wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in word and deed. 23 And when the time of forty years was fulfilled, it came into his mind to go visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And when he saw one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and revenged him which had the wrong, having smitten the Egyptian, 25 And he thought that his brethren would have understood that God by his hand should give them deliverance, but they understood not. 26 The next day he was seen as they strove, and set them at one again, saying: Sirs, ye are brethren: why hurt ye one another? 27 And he which did injury to his neighbour, thrust him away, saying: Who made thee a prince and a judge over us. 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? 29 And Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.