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…

Did cleave to Philip. Whereas Philip admitted him into his company, it appeareth thereby how hard a matter it is to know hypocrites. And this is a trial of our patience.¹ So Demas was a companion of Paul for a time, afterward he became an unfaithful revolt. Finally we cannot escape this evil, but that wicked men and deceitful will sometimes join themselves unto us, and if at any time the wicked creep craftily into our company, proud Censors burden us unjustly, as if we were to answer for their misdeeds. Though we must take great heed of facility, which causeth the Gospel to be slandered oftentimes, and we must be so much the more vigilant, that we admit none without great choice, forasmuch as we hear that great men have been deceived. He saith that he was made astonied with the greatness of the signs: that we may know that that great power, whereof he boasted, was nothing else but juggling and smokes. And Luke speaketh not in this place of any ⟨p. 191⟩plain wondering, but of a damp or trance which causeth a man to forget what he doth.

Did cleaue to Philip. Whereas Philip admitted him into his company, it appeareth thereby how hard a matter it is to knowe hypocrites. And this is a tryall of our patience.¹ So Demas was a companion of Paule for a time, afterwarde he became an vnfaithfull reuolt. Finallie we cannot escape this euill, but that wicked men and deceitfull will sometimes ioyne themselues vnto vs, and if at any time the wicked creepe craftily into our companie, proude Censors burthen vs vniustly, as if wee were to answere for their misdeeds. Though we must take great heede of facilitie, which causeth the Gospel to be slaundered oftentimes, and we must be so much the more vigilant, that wee admit none without great choise, forasmuch as we heare that great men haue bene deceiued. He saith that he was made astonyed with the greatnesse of the signes: that we may know that that great power, whereof he boasted, was nothing else but iugling and smokes. And Luke speaketh not in this place of anie ⟨p. 191⟩plaine wondering, but of a dampe or trance which causeth a man to forget what he doth.