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…

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.

Therefore wee see that the Iewes were first reprehended for their boldnesse, for because that being not content with the plaine worde of God, they were carried away after their owne inuentions. Secondlie they are reprooued for the preposterous abuse of the true and syncere worship: because they followed the flesh in steede of the Spirite. They had, saith he, the Tabernacle of witnesse. Therefore it was their owne wantonnes and rashnesse onely, which caused them to sinne. For seeing they were wel taught, what was the right way and order of worshiping God, all cloake and colour of ignorance was taken away. Which thing is worth the noting. For seeing God doeth after a sort bridle vs, when he maketh his will knowne vnto vs, if after we haue receiued his commaundement, wee turne aside either vnto the right hand or to the left, we be twise giltie: because the seruaunt which knoweth his masters will, and doeth it not, shall suffer more stripes. This is the first marke whereby the holy Spirit doeth distinguish all bastardlie and corrupt worshipings from the true and syncere worshippe. Yea (to speake more briefly) the first difference betweene true worship and Idolatrie is this, when the godly take in hand nothing but that which is agreeable to the word of God: but the other thinke all that lawfull which pleaseth themselues: and so they count their owne wil a Law, whereas God alloweth nothing but that which hee himselfe hath appointed. To this ende serueth the word witnesse.