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…

11 Furthermore, the multitude. This history doth abundantly testify how ready & bent men are unto vanity. Paul uttered not that word abruptly, arise: but he added it as it were a conclusion to the sermon made concerning Christ. Yet the people ascribe the praise of the miracle unto their idols, as if they had heard no word of Christ. In deed it is no such wonder, that the barbarous men fell unto superstition, which they had learned from their childhood, so soon as they saw the miracle. But this vice is too common every where, & it is so bred in us, to be perverse and wrong interpreters of the works of god. Hence come such gross dotings of superstitions in popery, because catching rashly at miracles, they take no heed to doctrine. For which cause we must take the better heed, & be the more sober, least we happen with the sense of the flesh to corrupt (whereunto we are so bent) the power of god, which shineth & appeareth to us for our salvation. And no marvel if the Lord would have only a few miracles wrought, & that for a short time: least through the lust of men they should be drawn unto a far contrary end: because it is unmeet that he should set his name to be mocked of the world: which must needs be, when that which is proper to him is translated unto Idols, or the unbelievers corrupt his works, to invent corrupt worshipping: while that setting the word aside, they catch at every divine power which they feign.

11 Furthermore, the multitude. This historie doth abundantly testifie how readie & bent men are vnto vanitie. Paul vttered not that word abruptly, arise: but he added it as it wer a conclusion to the sermon made concerning Christ. Yet the people ascribe the praise of the myracle vnto their idols, as if they had heard no word of Christ. In deede it is no such wonder, that the barbarous men fell vnto superstition, whiche they had learned from their childhood, so soone as they saw the myracle. But this vice is too common euery where, & it is so bred in vs, to bee peruers and wrong interpreters of the works of god. Hence com such grosse dotings of superstitiōs in poperie, because catching rashly at myracles, they take no heed to doctrine. For which cause we must take the better heed, & be the more sober, least wee happen with the sense of the fleshe to corrupt (wherunto we are so bent) the power of god, which shineth & appeareth to vs for our saluation. And no maruel if the Lord would haue only a few myracles wrought, & that for a short time: least through the lust of men they should be drawne vnto a far contrary end: because it is vnmeet that he should set his name to be mocked of the world: which must needes be, when that which is proper to him is translated vnto Idols, or the vnbeleeuers corrupt his works, to inuent corrupt worshipping: while that setting the word aside, they catch at euery diuine power which they feigne.