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…

For because they hate the truth, they would have it suppressed.

For because they hate the truth, they woulde haue it suppressed.

18 When they heard these things they were quieted. The end doth show that those were not moved with malice, which did contend with Peter. For this is an evident sign of godliness, in that being throughly instructed touching the will of God, they cease forthwith to contend. By which example we are taught that those are not to be despised, who being offended through unadvised zeal, reprove any thing wrongfully: but that their consciences must be appeased by the word of god, which are troubled by error, and that their docility is tried at least thus far forth. As touching us, we do hereby in like sort learn, whereupon our judgement must depend: namely, upon the sole & simple beck of god. For this honour is due to him, that his will be to us the certain and principal rule of truth and justice. So often as it is requisite for us to know the cause of any thing, the Lord doth not conceal the same from us: but to the end he may accustom our faith unto just obedience, he telleth us sometimes simply and plainly that this or that thing pleaseth him. He which granteth liberty to himself to inquire farther, and taketh a delight in his curiosity, doth nothing else but throw himself headlong with devilish boldness. And Luke doth not only declare that these men held their peace, but that they gave glory also to God. Some are enforced by shame to hold their peace, who notwithstanding keep in that in their minds, which they dare not utter. That is rather a dissemblance of modesty, than docility. But these men do so throughly submit themselves to God, that they are not afraid nor ashamed to recant by and by.

18 When they heard these things they were quieted. The end doth shew that those were not moued with malice, which did contend with Peter. For this is an euident signe of godlinesse, in that beeing throughly instructed touching the will of God, they cease foorthwith to contend. By which example we are taught that those are not to be despised, who being offended through vnaduised zeale, reproue any thing wrongfully: but that their consciences must be appeased by the worde of god, which are troubled by errour, and that their docilitie is tryed at least thus far foorth. As touching vs, we doe hereby in like sort learne, whereuppon our iudgemēt must depend: namely, vpon the sole & simple beck of god. For this honor is due to him, that his will be to vs the certaine and principall rule of truth and iustice. So often as it is requisite for vs to know the cause of any thing, the Lorde doth not conceale the same from vs: but to the end he may accustome our faith vnto iust obedience, hee telleth vs sometimes simply and plainely that this or that thing pleaseth him. Hee which graunteth libertie to himselfe to inquire farther, and taketh a delight in his curiositie, doth nothing els but throw himself headlong with diuelish boldnesse. And Luke doth not only declare that these men held their peace, but that they gaue glory also to God. Some are inforced by shame to hold their peace, who notwithstanding keepe in that in their minds, which they dare not vtter. That is rather a dissemblance of modestie, thē docilitie. But these men doe so throughly submit themselues to God, that they are not afraide nor ashamed to recant by and by.