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…

8 To turn away the deputy from the faith. No marvel if the seducer seek to put away the light, whereby he saw his own darkness driven away. The same stour have we at this day with a number of brabblers, who using to sell their smokes, and to shut by all shifts possible the eyes of the simple, that they may not behold the sun of righteousness being now risen. We must wrestle with such lets: for as there be always, and every where magicians present, which procure us some business: Satan thrusteth in lets enough which possess our minds to drive away Christ: which the flesh is too ready to receive. Finally both the enticements of the world and the wicked affections of our flesh, are as many charms, whereby Satan ceaseth not to overthrow the faith.

8 To turne away the deputie from the faith. No maruell if the seducer seeke to put away the light, whereby he saw his owne darknes driuen away. The same stoure haue we at this day with a number of brablers, who vsing to sell their smokes, and to shut by all shifts possible the eyes of the simple, that they may not behold the sunne of righteousnes being now risen. We must wrastle with such lets: for as there be alwayes, and euery where magicians present, which procure vs some busines: Satan thrusteth in lets ynough which possesse our minds to driue away Christ: which the flesh is too ready to receiue. Finally both the inticements of the world and the wicked affections of our flesh, are as many charmes, whereby Satan ceaseth not to ouerthrow the faith.

9 And Saul who was also called Paul. Luke showeth now how God brake the bond wherein the deputy was bound. For seeing that he was too much addicted to the magician, he could not embrace true doctrine as one that was free and at liberty: for the devil keepeth those minds (which he hath entangled) in his slavery after a wonderful and uncredible manner, that they cannot see even the most plain truth: but so soon as he was once vanquished, Paul could easily enter in unto the deputy. And mark what Luke saith, that the faith is overthrown, when the word of God is resisted. Whence we may gather, that Faith is so grounded in the word, that without this shore it fainteth at every assault: yea that it is nothing else but the spiritual building of the word of God.