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…

18 There fell from his eyes as it had ben scales. The blindness of Paul, as we have said before, did not proceed from fear alone, or from amazedness: but by this means was he admonished of his former blindness, that he might quite abandon that boldness and vain confidence wherewith he was puffed up.¹ He boasteth that he was taught at the feet of Gamaliel: and undoubtedly he thought very well of his great witness, which was notwithstanding mere blindness. Therefore he is deprived of the sight of his body three days, that he may begin to see with his mind: for those must become fools, whosoever they be, which seem to themselves wise, that they may attain to true wisdom. For seeing that Christ is the sun of righteousness, in seeing without him, we see not: it is he also which openeth the eyes of the mind. Both things were showed to Paul, and to us are they showed in his person: for he hath his eyes covered with scales: that condemning all his knowledge of ignorance, he may learn ⟨p. 220⟩that he hath need of new light, which he hath hitherto wanted: and he is taught that he must fetch the true light from none other, save only from Christ, and that it is given by no other means, save only through his goodness. Furthermore whereas being pined with three days hunger, he maketh no haste to receive meat until he be baptized, thereby appeareth the earnest desire he had to learn: because he refreshed not his body with meat, until his soul had received strength.

18 There fell from his eies as it had ben scales. The blindnesse of Paul, as we haue saide before, did not proceede from feare alone, or from amasednesse: but by this meanes was hee admonished of his former blindnesse, that he might quite abandon that boldnesse and vaine confidence wherewith hee was puffed vp.¹ Hee boasteth that he was taught at the feete of Gamaliel: and vndoubtedly hee thought verie well of his great witnesse, which was notwithstanding meere blindnesse. Therfore hee is depriued of the sight of his bodie three dayes, that hee may beginne to see with his minde: for those must become fooles, whosoeuer they bee, which seeme to themselues wise, that they may attaine to true wisedome. For seeing that Christ is the sunne of righteousnesse, in seeing without him, we see not: it is he also which openeth the eyes of the minde. Both things were shewed to Paul, and to vs are they shewed in his person: for hee hath his eies couered with scales: that condemning all his knowledge of ignorance, he may learne