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…

And if so be it we covet to escape this trouble, let us raise no tumults against God, but let us with a quiet and meek spirit receive that peace which the Scripture offereth us.

And if so be it wee couet to escape this trouble, let vs raise no tumults against God, but let vs with a quiet and meeke spirit receiue that peace which the Scripture offereth vs.

23 When many days were fulfilled. He saith that many days were expired: that we may know that Paul had some space of time granted him wherein he might do good. For although the Jews did resist him even from the first day, yet the Lord did not suffer the course which he had begun well, to be broken off so soon, so he doth with his wonderful counsel hinder the purposes of the enemies, stay their endeavours, restrain their malice and madness, whiles that he furthereth the Gospel: and also we see what the hatred of the truth doth. For when the wicked see that they are unable to resist, they are carried headlong unto bloody fury. They would gladly contemn the word of God, if they could: but because they are enforced whether they will or no, to feel the force thereof, they run headlong like furious beasts with blind violence. The unadvised and rash heat of zeal will always almost break out into such cruelty unless men suffer themselves to be ruled by the word of God. This is assuredly horrible blindness. For why are they so mad, save only because their wounded conscience doth vex them? But God doth by this means punish their hypocrisy: who do therefore hate sound religion, because being friends of darkness, they fly the light. Furthermore we see how sweetly these preposterous zealous fellows grant themselves liberty to do whatsoever them lusteth, when Satan hath once pricked them forward to persecute the trueth. For they fear not to take counsel under colour of zeal, to put a man to death, which they know is mere wickedness: as at this day the Papists think that they may do whatsoever they will, so they can quench the doctrine of the Gospel: they rage not only with sword: but they go about by laying in wait, by treachery, and by most execrable means to destroy us. We must first beware that that do not befall us, that we entangle not our selves in the defence of evil causes: secondly that we handle those causes well, which we know are good. But it is to be thought that they laid wait for Paul privily: that done, when they could do no good this way, it is likely that they came to the governor of the city, and that then the gates were watched, that they might by one means or other catch him. For Paul saith, that Aretas the kings governor commandeth that which Luke attributeth in this place to the Jews.