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…

They determined &c. The Spirit of God put them in mind of this remedy to appease the tumult, which might otherwise have gone farther with doing much hurt. Whereby we be also taught, that we must always seek such means as be fit for ending discord: because God doeth so highly commend peace, let the faithful show that they do what they can to nourish the peace of the Church. The trueth must always be first in order with them, in defence whereof they must be afraid of no tumults. Yet they must so temper their heat, that they refuse no means of godly agreement: yea let them of their own accord invent what ways so ever they can, and let them be witty in seeking them out. Therefore we must observe this mean: least being carried away through immoderate vehemency of zeal, we be carried beyond the just bounds. For we must be courageous in defence of true doctrine, not stubborn, nor rash. Therefore let us learn to join together these two virtues which the Spirit of God commendeth in Paul. When he is drawn into the field by the wicked, he is not afraid boldly to offer himself: but when he doth meekly admit the remedy which was offered, he declareth plainly what small desire he had to fight. For otherwise he might have boasted that he did not pass for the Apostles, & so have stood stoutly in that: but the desire of peace did not suffer him to refuse their judgment. Moreover ignorant and weak men should have conceived a sinister opinion, if they should have seen two men only separated from all the servants of Christ. And godly teachers must in no case neglect this way to cherish faith, that they may show that they agree with the church. Paul in deed did not depend upon the beck of the Apostles, that he would change his opinion, if he should have found them contrary to him, who would not have given place even to the very Angels,¹ as he boasteth in first Chapt. to the Galatians. But least the wicked should slanderously report that he was a man that stood too much in his own conceit and which was too proud, & which did please himself with an unseemly contempt of all men: he offered to give an account of his doctrine, as it became him, & as it was profitable for the Church. Secondly he presented himself before the Apostles with sure hope of victory, because he knew full well what would be their judgement:

They determined &c. The Spirit of God put them in minde of this remedie to appease the tumult, which might otherwise haue gone farther with doing much hurt. Whereby we be also taught, that we must alwaies seeke such meanes as be fit for ending discorde: because God doeth so highly commende peace, let the faithfull shewe that they doe what they can to nourish the peace of the Church. The trueth must alwayes be first in order with them, in defense whereof they must be afraid of no tumults. Yet they must so temper their heat, that they refuse no meanes of godly agreement: yea let them of their owne accord inuent what wayes so euer they can, and let them be wittie in seeking thē out. Therfore we must obserue this meane: least being carried away through immoderate vehemencie of zeale, we be carried beyond the iust boundes. For we must bee couragious in defense of true doctrine, not stubberne, nor rash. Therefore let vs learne to ioyne togither these two vertues which the Spirit of God commendeth in Paul. When he is drawne into the field by the wicked, he is not afraid boldly to offer himself: but when he doth meekely admit the remedie which was offered, hee declareth plainly what small desire he had to fight. For otherwise hee might haue boasted that he did not passe for the Apostles, & so haue stood stoutly in that: but the desire of peace did not suffer him to refuse their iudgment. Moreouer ignorant and weak men should haue conceiued a sinister opinion, if they should haue seene two men only seperated from al the seruants of Christ. And godly teachers must in no case neglect this way to cherish faith, that they may shew that they agree with the church. Paul in deed did not depend vpon the becke of the Apostles, that he woulde change his opinion, if he should haue found them contrary to him, who would not haue giuen place euen to the very Angels,