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…

CHAP. IX.

1 AND Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter, against the disciples of the Lord, coming unto the highest priest, 2 Required epistles of him to Damascus unto the Synagogues, that if he should find any of this sect whether they were men or women, he might carry them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he was in the way, it happened that he drew near to Damascus: and suddenly there shined a light about him from heaven, 4 And falling flat to the ground, he heard a voice, saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against pricks.

1 AND Saul yet breathing out threatnings and slaughter, against the disciples of the Lord, comming vnto the highest priest, 2 Required epistles of him to Damascus vnto the Synagogues, that if he should finde any of this sect whether they were men or women, he might carrie them bound to Ierusalem. 3 And as he was in the way, it hapned that he drew neere to Damascus: and sodainly there shined a light about him from heauen, 4 And falling flat to the ground, he heard a voice, saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said I am Iesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against pricks.

1 And Saul. Luke setteth down in this place a noble history, and ⟨p. 210⟩a history full well worthy to be remembered, concerning the conversion of Paul, after what sort the Lord did not only bring him under, and make him subject to his commandment, when he raged like an untamed beast, but also how he made him another & a new man. But because Luke setteth down all things in order, as in a famous work of God, it shall be more convenient to follow his text, that all that may come in order whatsoever is worth the noting. When as he sayeth, that he breathed out threatenings & slaughter as yet, his meaning is. that after that his hands were once imbrued with innocent blood, he proceeded in like cruelty, & was always a furious & bloody enemy to the church, after that he had once made that entrance, whereof mention is made in the death of Stephen. For which cause it was the more incredible that he could be so suddenly tamed. And whereas such a cruel wolf was not only turned into a sheep, but did also put on the nature of a shepherd: the wonderful hand of God did show it self therein manifestly.