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…

44 The Tabernacle of witness. Stephen showeth here that the blame cannot be laid upon God, because the Jews polluted themselves with divers superstitions, as if God had suffered them to wander freely. For he saith that God had commanded how he would be worshipped by them. Whereupon it followeth that they were entangled in so many errors, because they would not follow that form which God had appointed. Although he girdeth them for two causes: Because being not content with that rule alone which God had prescribed, they invented to themselves strange worships: secondly because they had no respect unto the right end of the temple, and of the ceremonies which God had appointed. For whereas they ought to have ben unto them exercises of the spiritual worship, they apprehended nothing but that which was carnal, according to their carnal nature, that is, they took the shadow for the body.

44 The Tabernacle of witnesse. Stephen sheweth heere that the blame cannot be laide vpon God, because the Iewes polluted themselues with diuers superstitions, as if God had suffered them to wander freely. For he saith that God had commaunded howe he would bee worshipped by them. Whereupon it followeth that they were intangled in so manie errours, because they would not follow that forme which God had appointed. Although he girdeth them for two causes: Because being not content with that rule alone which God had prescribed, they inuented to themselues strang worships: secondly because they had no respect vnto the right end of the temple, and of the ceremonies which God had appointed. For wheras they ought to haue ben vnto them exercises of the spirituall worshippe, they apprehended nothing but that which was carnall, according to their carnall nature, that is, they tooke the shadowe for the bodie.

Therefore we see that the Jews were first reprehended for their boldness, for because that being not content with the plain word of God, they were carried away after their own inventions. Secondly they are reproved for the preposterous abuse of the true and sincere worship: because they followed the flesh in stead of the Spirit. They had, saith he, the Tabernacle of witness. Therefore it was their own wantonness and rashness only, which caused them to sin. For seeing they were well taught, what was the right way and order of worshipping God, all cloak and colour of ignorance was taken away. Which thing is worth the noting. For seeing God doeth after a sort bridle us, when he maketh his will known unto us, if after we have received his commandment, we turn aside either unto the right hand or to the left, we be twice guilty: because the servant which knoweth his masters will, and doeth it not, shall suffer more stripes. This is the first mark whereby the holy Spirit doeth distinguish all bastardly and corrupt worshippings from the true and sincere worship. Yea (to speak more briefly) the first difference between true worship and Idolatry is this, when the godly take in hand nothing but that which is agreeable to the word of God: but the other think all that lawful which pleaseth themselves: and so they count their own will a Law, whereas God alloweth nothing but that which he himself hath appointed. To this end serveth the word witness.