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…

38 This is he which was in the congregation in the wilderness, with the Angel which^” had spoken unto him in mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received lively Oracles that he might give them to us: 39 Whom our fathers would not obey, but they refused him, and they turned back in their hearts into Egypt. ⟨p. 159⟩40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for we know not what is happened to this Moses which brought us out of the land of Egypt. 41 And they made a Calf in those days, and they offered sacrifice to the Idol, and they rejoiced over the works of their own hands.

38 This is he which was in the congregation in the wildernes, with the Angell which^” had spoken vnto him in mount Sina, and with our fathers: who receiued liuely Oracles that he might giue them to vs: 39 Whom our fathers woulde not obey, but they refused him, and they turned backe in their hearts into Aegypt. ⟨p. 159⟩40 Saying vnto Aaron, Make vs gods to goe before vs: for wee knowe not what is hapned to this Moses which brought vs out of the land of Aegypt. 41 And they made a Calfe in those dayes, and they offered sacrifice to the Idoll, and they reioyced ouer the works of their owne hands.

1. ”or did speak to him in the mount.or did speake to him in the mount.

38 Stephen proceedeth to set forth the frowardness of the people, who though they were provoked with so many benefits of God, yet did they never cease maliciously to reject him. If they had been disobedient and unthankful to God before, yet this so wonderful a deliverance ought to have brought them into a better mind: but he declareth that they were always like themselves. It was meet that so many miracles should not only have stuck fast in their minds, but also have continued still before their eyes. But having forgotten all, they fly back suddenly unto the superstitions of Egypt. The memorial of their cruel servitude was yet fresh, which they had escaped by passing over the read sea: and yet they prefer those tyrants by whom they were more than cruelly handled, before their deliverer. This was therefore a heap of ungodliness most desperate, that their stubbornness could not be broken or overcome with so many benefits of God, but that they did aways return unto their nature. This doeth greatly augment the greatness of the offence, where Stephen sayeth that Moses was then with them in the wilderness. For besides that there appeareth here rare goodness and long sufferance of the Lord, in bearing with them, they make themselves to be without all excuse, whiles that being beset on every side with so many straits, being brought into so great distress, having Moses to be their guide in their journey, and the faithful keeper of their life, they fall away nevertheless treacherously from God. Finally it appeareth that they were like untamed beasts, whom God could not keep in obedience with so many bands. Therefore in as much as Moses left not off to govern them even through the wilderness under the conduct and aide of the Angel, it is an easy matter to gather by this circumstance of time, how incurable and obstinate their frowardness was. As it was a point of monstrous rebellion, not to be humbled with miseries, and even with the very sight of death. Where as he sayeth that Moses was with the Angel and the fathers, there is a contrary respect. He was present with the fathers, that he might be their guide, according to the commandment of the Lord: he was with the Angel as a minister.