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…

16 In times past. Because the men of Lystra might object that that god was unknown, hitherto Paul and Barnabas prevent them and say, that all men wandered indeed in darkness, and that all mankind was stricken with blindness, but that they deny that any prejudice must be made according to the perverse ignorance of the world. These were two no small lets for the unbelievers, long antiquity of time, and the consent almost of all nations. Paul and Barnabas remove both in this place: If, say they, men have erred many years, & if the world have wan dered without reason & judgement, let not therefore the truth of God when it appeareth be less precious to you. For seeing that it is eternal and is not changed, it is an unmeet thing that the long prescription of years should be set against it. They prove that there is no more aide or patronage to be found in the number of men. There is no cause (say they) why the conspiracy of all the whole world should keep you from coming to the right way. Blindness hath got the upper hand among all people: but god doeth now appear and give light to you. Therefore your eyes must be open, and you must not slumber and sleep in darkness, though all people have been drowned therein hitherto.

16 In times past. Because the men of Lystra might obiect that that god was vnknowen, hitherto Paul and Barnabas preuent them and say, that all men wandered indeed in darknesse, and that all mankinde was stricken with blindnesse, but that they denie that any preiudice must be made according to the peruers ignorance of the worlde. These were two no small lets for the vnbeleeuers, long antiquitie of time, and the consent almost of all nations. Paul and Barnabas remoue both in this place: If, say they, men haue erred many yeeres, & if the world haue wā dered without reason & iudgement, let not therefore the truth of God when it appeareth bee lesse precious to you. For seeing that it is eternal and is not chaunged, it is an vnmeete thing that the long prescription of yeeres should be set against it. They proue that there is no more aide or patronage to be found in the number of men. There is no cause (say they) why the conspiracie of all the whol world should keep you frō cō ming to the right way. Blindnesse hath got the vpper hande among all people: but god doeth nowe appeare and giue light to you. Therefore your eyes muste bee open, and you muste not slumber and sleepe in darkenes, though all people haue beene drowned therein hytherto.