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…

Herod was displeased. Luke useth the compound participle Thumomachon, which signifieth privy grudging or hatred. Therefore Herod did not make open war against those cities, but such was his displeasure, that he assayed to subdue them by policy, as it were by undermining them by little and little. It is a rare matter saith Demosthenes, for free cities to agree with Monarchs. Moreover Herod was naturally cruel, bold, of unsatiable covetousness: and it is not to be doubted but that Tyre and Sidon were as it were certain bars or rails to stay his fury, as they were wealthy cities & unaccustomed to bear the yoke. Also the remembrance of their old glory might have encouraged them: forasmuch as pride cometh commonly of wealth: it is no marvel if these two cities were proud:¹ the one whereof Isaiah calleth Queen of the seas, whose merchants he said were kings: and her chapmen Dukes. Also he sayeth elsewhere that Sidon was become proud by reason of her wealth. And although they had sundry times bin brought almost to utter ruin; yet the commodiousness of their situation, did shortly restore them to their wonted state. Hereby it came to pass that they could more hardly digest Agrippa of late a base fellow, a man of no estimation, & one who had bin let out of prison, especially seeing that he behaved himself so cruelly toward his own subjects, & was troublesome and injurious to his neighbours.

Herod was displeased. Luke vseth the compound participle Thumomachon, which signifieth priuie grudging or hatred. Therefore Herod did not make open war against those cities, but such was his displeasure, that he assaied to subdue them by pollicie, as it were by vnderminding them by litle and litle. It is a rare matter saith Demosthenes, for free cities to agree with Monarches. Moreouer Herod was naturally cruel, bold, of vnsatiable couetousnesse: and it is not to be doubted but that Tyrus and Sidon were as it were certaine barres or railes to stay his furie, as they were welthy cities & vnaccustomed to beare the yoke. Also the remembrance of their old glory might haue incouraged them: forasmuch as pride commeth commonly of wealth: it is no maruell if these two cities were proud:¹ the one whereof Isaias calleth Queene of the seas, whose marchants he said were kings: and her chapmen Dukes. Also he saieth elsewhere that Sidon was become proud by reason of her wealth. And although they had sundrie times bin brought almost to vtter ruine; yet the commodiousnes of their situation, did shortly restore them to their wonted state. Hereby it came to passe that they could more hardly digest Agrippa of late a base fellow, a man of no estimation, & one who had bin let out of prison, especially seing that he behaued himselfe so cruelly toward his own subiects, & was troblesome and iniurious to his neighbors.