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…

12 That he may pass over unto another history, he showeth that the disciples being returned unto Jerusalem, dwelt together in one parlour. For it was the upper part of the house, which used to be let out unto those which did hire houses: for the most commodious places were reserved unto them that were masters of the house for their own use. Wherefore by this word, Luke doth signify that they were driven into a strait room: & yet notwithstanding though this commodity were great, yet they did not depart asunder. They might have been more commodiously asunder, yet might they not part company before they had received the Spirit. In that he noteth here the distance of place, it bringeth credit unto the history. Unless peradventure he meant hereby to declare, that they were not terrified with any fear of danger, but that they did all return & kept company together in one house, which was not so large, but that the company being greater than the place could well contain, it might breed some rumour or noise. A Sabbath days journey was two miles, & that account doth well agree with the place of John. chap. 11.18. where he saith,¹ that Jerusalem was distant from Bethany almost fifteen furlongs, which containeth about a thousand and nine hundred paces. And the mount Olivet was at the side of Bethany. There was no Sabbath days journey prescribed in the Law: for the Lord doth command them simply, to rest upon the Sabbath day in the Law. ⟨p. 16⟩But because the Jews could not easily be ruled, but that they would run abroad about their business upon the Sabbath day: (as the Lord himself doth complain,² that they did bear burdens out at the gates) therefore it is to be thought that it was determined by the Priests (to the end they might restrain such enormities) that no man should travail upon the Sabbath day, above two miles. Although Jerome in his answers unto Algasia, doeth say that this tradition did come from two Rabbins, namely, from Atriba, and from Simon Heli.

12 That he may passe ouer vnto another historie, he sheweth that the disciples being returned vnto Ierusalē, dwelt together in one parlor. For it was the vpper part of the house, which vsed to bee let out vnto those which did hire houses: for the most commodious places were reserued vnto them that were masters of the house for their owne vse. Wherefore by this word, Luke doth signifie that they were driuen into a straite roome: & yet notwithstanding though this commoditie were great, yet they did not depart asunder. They might haue been more commodiouslie asunder, yet might they not part companie before they had receiued the Spirit. In that he noteth here the distance of place, it bringeth credit vnto the historie. Vnlesse peraduenture he meant hereby to declare, that they were not terrified with any feare of danger, but that they did all returne & kept companie togeather in one house, which was not so large, but that the companie being greater than the place could wel cō tain, it might breed some rumor or noise. A Sabboth dayes iourney was two miles, & that account doth well agree with the place of