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…

6 The fruit of that reprehension followeth, wherewith we have said it was requisite that Paul should have been sore shaken, that his hardness might be broken for now he offereth himself as ready to do what soever he should command him, whom of late he despised. For when he asketh what Christ would have him to do, he granteth him authority and power. Even the very reprobate are also terrified with the threatening of God, so that they are compelled to reverence him, and to submit themselves unto his will and pleasure: yet nevertheless they cease not to fret, & to foster stubbornness within. But as God humbled Paul, so he wrought effectually in his hart. For it came not to pass by any goodness of nature, that Paul did more willingly submit himself to God,¹ ⟨p. 214⟩than Pharaoh: but because (being like to an anvil) did with his hardness beat back the whips of God wherewith he was to be brought under, (even as it had bin the strokes of a hammer): but the heart of Paul was suddenly made a fleshy heart of a stony heart, after that it received softness from the Spirit of God, which softness it had not naturally. The same thing do we also try daily in our selves he reproveth us by his word, he threateneth, & terrifieth us, he addeth also light correction, & prepareth us divers ways unto subjection: but all these helps shall never cause any man to bring forth good fruit, unless the Spirit of God do mollify his heart within.

6 The frute of that reprehension followeth, wherwith we haue said it was requisite that Paule should haue been sore shaken, that his hardnesse might be broken for now he offereth himself as readie to do what soeuer he should command him, whom of late he despised. For when he asketh what Christ would haue him to doe, he graunteth him authority and power. Euen the very reprobate are also terrified with the threatening of God, so that they are compelled to reuerence him, and to submit themselues vnto his will and pleasure: yet neuerthelesse they cease not to fret, & to foster stubbornes within. But as God humbled Paul, so he wrought effectually in his hart. For it came not to passe by any goodnesse of nature, that Paule did more willingly submit himselfe to God,¹ ⟨p. 214⟩