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…

1 Here followeth new persecution raised by Herod. We see that the church had some short truce, that it might as it were by a short breathing recover some courage against the time to come, and that it might then fight afresh. So at this day there is no cause why the faithful having borne the brunts of one or two conflicts should promise themselves rest, or should desire such a calling as old overworn soldiers use to have: let this suffice them if the Lord grant them some time wherein they may recover their strength. This Herod was Agrippa the greater, the son of Aristobulus, whom his father slue. Josephus doth no where call him Herod, it may be, because he had a brother who was king of Chalcis, whose name was Herod. This man was incensed to afflict the church not so much for any love he had to religion, as that by this means he might flatter the common people, which did otherwise not greatly favour him, or rather he was moved hereunto with tyrannical cruelty, because he was afraid of innovation, which tyrants do always fear, least it trouble the quiet estate of their dominion. Yet it is likely that he did shed innocent blood, that according to the common craft of kings he might gratify a furious people; because Saint Luke will shortly after declare, that Peter the Apostle was put into prison that he might be a pleasant spectacle.

1 Here foloweth new persecution raised by Herod. We see that the church had som short truce, that it might as it were by a short breathing recouer some courage against the time to come, and that it might then fight afresh. So at this day there is no cause why the faithful hauing borne the bruntes of one or two conflicts should promise thēselues rest, or should desire such a calling as old ouerworn souldiars vse to haue: let this suffice them if the Lord graunt thē some time wherin they may recouer their strength. This Herod was Agrippa the greater, the sonne of Aristobulus, whom his father slue. Iosephus doth no where call him Herod, it may be, because he had a brother who was king of Chalcis, whose name was Herod. This man was incensed to afflict the churche not so much for any loue he had to religion, as that by this meanes hee might flatter the common people, which did otherwise not greatly fauour him, or rather he was moued hereunto with tyrannicall crueltie, because hee was afraid of innouation, which tyraunts doe alwaies feare, least it trouble the quiet estate of their dominion. Yet it is likely that he did shed innocent blood, that according to the common craft of kinges he might gratifie a furious people; because Saint Luke will shortly after declare, that Peter the Apostle was put into prison that he might be a pleasaunt spectacle.