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 When there was sedition arisen. This was no small trial in that Paul and Barnabas are hailed into a troublesome tumult. There was mischief enough already in the matter it self: but it is a more cruel mischief, when the contention waxeth so hot, that they are enforced to fight with their brethren as with enemies. Add moreover the infamy, wherewith they saw themselves burdened among the simple and unskilful, as if they would trouble the peace of the Church with their stubbornness. For it falleth out oftentimes so, that the faithful servants of Christ are envied alone, and bear all the blame, after that they have bin unjustly troubled, & have faithfully employed themselves in defence of a ⟨p. 351⟩good cause. Therefore they must be endowed with invincible courage to despise all false reports which are carried about concerning them. Therefore Paul boasteth in an other place that he went through the midst of seditions. But the servants of God must observe such moderation,¹ that they abhor so much as they can all discord: if at any time Satan raise tumults and contentions, let them endeavour to appease them: and finally let them do all that they can to foster and cherish unity. But again on the other side when the truth of god is assailed, let them refuse no combat for defence thereof: ne let them fear to oppose themselves valiantly though heaven and earth go together. And let us being admonished by this example, learn, so often as there ariseth any tumult in the church, wisely to weigh through whose fault it came, least we rashly condemn the ministers of Christ: whose gravity is rather to be praised, because they can abide so valiantly such violent assaults of Satan. Secondly let us call to mind that Satan was bridled by the wonderful providence of God, that he might not put the doctrine of Paul to the foil. For if he had bin suffered to do hurt at his pleasure so soon as the faith of the Gentiles had bin pulled down and overthrown the Gospel preached by Paul should have fallen to the ground, and the gate should have shut against the calling of the Gentiles. Thirdly let us learn that we must in time prevent dissension of what sort so ever it be, least it break out into the flame of contention: because satan seeketh nothing else by the fans of dissension, but to kindle so many fires.

2 When there was sedition arisen. This was no small triall in that Paul and Barnabas are hailed into a troublesome tumult. There was mischiefe ynough alreadie in the matter it selfe: but it is a more cruell mischiefe, when the contention waxeth so hote, that they are enforced to fight with their brethren as with enimies. Adde moreouer the infamie, wherewith they saw themselues burdened among the simple and vnskilfull, as if they would trouble the peace of the Church with their stubbernes. For it falleth out oftentimes so, that the faithful seruants of Christ are enuied alone, and beare al the blame, after that they haue bin vniustly troubled, & haue faithfully emploied themselues in defense of a