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…

Forasmuch as their country was nourished. It had not bin good for him to have assailed the men of Tyre and Sidon with open war, therefore he giveth commandment that there should no corn nor victual be carried out of his realm. By this means did he without any army besiege them by little and little. For the borders of both cities were strait, and their ground barren, whereas there was a great people to be fed. Therefore after that they were tamed with hunger, they humbly crave peace, and that not free, for assuredly they had some laws given them: and it is to be thought that this Blastus mentioned by Luke, was not with bare words persuaded but with rewards won to entreat the peace. I know not why Erasmus did think it good to translate this place otherwise than the words import.

Forasmuch as their countrie was nourished. It had not bin good for him to haue assailed the men of Tyre and Sidon with open warre, therefore he giueth commandement that there should no corne nor victuall be caried out of his realme. By this meanes did he without any army besiege them by little and little. For the borders of both cities were strait, and their ground barren, whereas there was a great people to be fed. Therefore after that they were tamed with hunger, they humblie craue peace, and that not free, for assuredly they had some lawes giuen them: and it is to be thought that this Blastus mentioned by Luke, was not with bare words perswaded but with rewards woone to intreat the peace. I know not why Erasmus did thinke it good to translate this place otherwise than the words import.

21 Upon an appointed day. Luke saith that the men of Tyre and Sidon ⟨p. 287⟩had peace granted them, because this was the occasion of the kings oration, without doubt, that he might make them his underlings hereafter. The same history is extant in Josephus in his nineteenth book of Antiquities: save only that he calleth him every where Agrippa, whom Luke calleth Herod. It is to be thought that Agrippa was his proper name, & that he was called by none other name so long as he was a private man: but after that he was advanced to be a king, he took to himself princely dignity according to the name of his grandfather. Josephus & Luke agree together wonderfully in the thing it self, and in all circumstances. First they agree concerning the place. Josephus saith that his garment was embroidered with gold, on which when the sun beams light, it did glister again: & that this was the cause which moved the courtiers to call him a God: that he was suddenly wounded: also that there was seen an Owl, sitting upon a cord over his head, which cord did prognosticate his ruin. And he is so far from doubting that his sacrilegious pride was punished with this kind of punishment, that he saith that he confessed the same openly amidst his cruel torments, Behold me whom you call a God, I am enforced to finish my life most miserably. There is no mention made there of the peace made with those of Tyre & Sidon: but that he made and set forth plays in honour of Cesar. But it may be that the solemnity of the plays was appointed in respect of the peace concluded: which we know was a solemn thing.