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…

54 Furthermore when they heard these things, they were cut asunder in their hearts, and they gnashed upon him with their teeth. 55 But forasmuch as he was full of the holy Ghost, he looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said: Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. And they cried with a loud voice, and stopped their ears. 57 And with one accord they ran upon him: 58 And having cast him out of the city, they stoned him.

54 Furthermore when they heard these thinges, they were cut asunder in their hearts, and they gnashed vpon him with their teeth. 55 But forasmuch as he was full of the holy Ghoste, he looked vp stedfastly into heauen, and saw the glory of God, and Iesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said: Behold, I see the heauens open, and the Sonne of man standing at the right hande of God. And they cryed with a lowde voyce, and stopped their eares. 57 And with one accord they ran vpon him: 58 And hauing cast him out of the citie, they stoned him.

54 When they heard. The beginning of the action had in it some colour of judgement: but at length the Judges can not bridle their fury. First they interrupt him with murmuring and noise, now they break out into envious and deadly cryings, least they should hear any one word. Afterward they hale the holy man out of the city, that they may put him to death. And Luke expresseth properly, what force Satan hath to drive forward the adversaries of the word. When he saith, that they burst asunder inwardly, he noteth that they were not only angry, but they were also stricken with madness. Which fury breaketh out into the gnashing of the teeth, as a violent fire into flame. The reprobate who are at Satan his commandment, must needs be thus moved with the hearing of the word of God: & this is the state of the Gospel, it driveth hypocrites into madness, who might seem before to be modest: as if a drunken man which is desirous of sleep, be suddenly awaked.¹ Therefore Simeon assigneth this to Christ as proper to him, to disclose the thoughts of many hearts. Yet notwithstanding this ought not to be ascribed to the doctrine of salvation, whose end is rather this, to frame mens minds to obey god, after that it hath subdued them. But so soon as Satan hath possessed their minds, if they be urged, their ungodliness will break out. Therefore this is an accidentarie evil, yet we are taught by these examples, that we must not look that the word of God should draw all men unto a sound mind.