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…

2 And those Jews which believed not. Lo, they are persecuted now afresh, & that by the Jews. For they were like firebrands to inflame the minds of the Gentiles, For it is to be thought that the Gentiles could abide to hear the gospel preached, unless they had bin incensed to resist by these fans. I interpret cacosai in this place, for to resist with a malicious affection, or to enforce to do hurt, Under the name Brethren, Luke comprehendeth in my judgement all the godly: to wit, that they were vexed and troubled whosoever embraced the gospel, as if some pernicious sect had risen to spread discord, to trouble the peace of the city, to shake the public state. Yet if any had rather restrain it unto Paul and Barnabas, I am not greatly against him.

2 And those Iewes which beleeued not. Lo, they are persecuted now afresh, & that by the Iewes. For they were like firebrands to inflame the minds of the Gentiles, For it is to be thought that the Gentiles could abide to heare the gospel preached, vnles they had bin incensed to resist by these fannes. I interprete cacosai in this place, for to resist with a malicious affection, or to enforce to do hurt, Vnder the name Brethren, Luke comprehendeth in my iudgement all the godly: to wit, that they were vexed and troubled whosoeuer imbraced the gospel, as if some pernicious sect had risen to spread discord, to trouble the peace of the citie, to shake the publike state. Yet if any had rather restraine it vnto Paul and Barnabas, I am not greatly against him.

3 A long time. Luke declareth here, that Paul & Barnabas did not depart the city, so soon as they saw some set against them. For when he saith, that they behaved themselves boldly, he giveth us an inkling that there was cause of fear offered them. Whence we gather that they stood stoutly, & that through rare constancy & courage they counted all dangers as nothing, until they were compelled by violence to depart to an other place. This clause Epi curio may be expounded diversly, either that they behaved themselves stoutly in the Lords cause: or that they trusted to his grace, & were thereby encouraged. I have followed that which was more common, that they behaved themselves freely & boldly in the Lord, that is, being holpen not by their own strength, but by his grace. He showeth immediately after, after what sort they were encouraged in the Lord: to wit, because he approveth the doctrine by signs & miracles. For seeing that they knew thereby, that the Lord was present with them, & that his hand was nigh to help them, they were worthily pricked forward to behave themselves stoutly. But in noting one kind, he doth not exclude other kinds. For the Lord did lift them up unto boldness, & establish them in constancy by other means. But it seemeth that Luke did speak of miracles expressly, because the Lord showed in them his power openly before all the people. Therefore Paul & Barnabas were not a little emboldened, when the Lord did so deliver their doctrine from contempt. Furthermore, we must note this phrase, that the Lord gave witness to the gospel in miracles, for it showeth the true use of miracles. This is indeed the first end, that they may show to us the power and grace of God: but