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…

And exhorting them. This was the principal way to confirm, in that they provoke the disciples who had before embraced the Gospel and did profess it, to go forward, by exhorting them. For we are far from being so ready and stout as we ought. Therefore our laziness needeth pricks, and our coldness must be warmed. But because GOD will have his exercised with divers combats, Paul and Barnabas admonish the disciples to be ready to suffer tribulation. A very necessary admonition, that we must go on warfare in this world that we may live well and godly. If the flesh should not molest us, if Satan should attempt nothing, if the wicked should not trouble us with some stumbling blocks, it were no such troublesome thing to persevere: because that were a sweet walk through a soft and pleasant way: but because there arise on every side, and every minute of an hour, infinite assaults which provoke us to fall away, there ariseth the hardness, and therefore is it that the virtue of constancy is so rare. Therefore to the end we may persist even unto the end, we must be prepared for war. But Luke speaketh not in this place only of the persecutions which the adversaries raise against us with drawn swords, and flaming fires: but he comprehendeth under the word tribulations all sorrows & miseries, whereunto the life of the godly is subject, not because the faithful alone are miserable: because this is the common state both of good and bad. Whence also cometh that famous proverb, It is the best, not to be borne: and the next, to die very quickly. But when as God doth oftentimes spare the wicked, and doth fat them with prosperity: he is more sharp and hard toward his children. For besides common molestations, they are oppressed peculiarly with many discommodities, and the Lord doth humble them with such exercises, keeping their flesh under correction least it wax wanton: he awaketh them, least they lie sleeping upon earth. Unto these are added the reproaches and slanders of the wicked: for they must be as it were the offscourings of the world. Their simpleness is laughed at: but they use wicked mocks and scoffs principally against God. Last of all, the lust of the wicked breaketh out into open violence.

And exhorting them. This was the principall way to cofirme, in that they prouoke the disciples who had before embraced the Gospel and did professe it, to goe forwarde, by exhorting them. For wee are farre from being so readie and stout as we ought. Therfore our lasinesse needeth prickes, and our coldnesse must bee warmed. But because GOD will haue his exercised with diuers cumbates, Paul and Barnabas admonishe the disciples to be readie to suffer tribulation. A very necessary admonition, that we must goe on warrefare in this worlde that wee may liue well and godlilie. If the flesh should not molest vs, if Satan shoulde attempt nothing, if the wicked shoulde not trouble vs with some stumbling blocks, it were no such troublesome thing to perseuere: because that were a sweete walke through a soft and pleasant way: but because there arise on euery side, and euery minute of an houre, infinite assaults which prouoke vs to fal away, there ariseth the hardnesse, and therfore is it that the vertue of constancie is so rare. Therefore to the ende wee may persist euen vnto the end, we must be prepared for warre. But Luke speaketh not in this place only of the persecutions which the aduersaries raise against vs with drawen swordes, and flaming fires: but he comprehendeth vnder the worde tribulations all sorrowes & miseries, whereunto the life of the godly is subiect, not because the faithfull alone are miserable: because this is the common state both of good and badde. Whence also commeth that famous prouerbe, It is the best, not to bee borne: and the next, to die very quickly. But when as God doth oftentimes spare the wicked, and doth fat them with ptosperitie: hee is more sharpe and harde towarde his children. For besides common molestations, they are oppressed peculiarly with many discommodities, and the Lorde doth humble them with such exercises, keeping their flesh vnder correction least it wax wanton: he awaketh them, least they lie sleeping vpon earth. Vnto these are added the reproches and slanders of the wicked: for they must be as it were the ofscourings of the world. Their simplenes is laughed at: but they vse wicked mocks and scofs principally against God. Last of all, the lust of the wicked breaketh out into open violence.