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…

5 Certain of the sect of the Pharisees. It is not without cause that Luke expresseth what kind of men they were, which went about to trouble or hinder Paul even at Jerusalem also. And it is to be thought that the evil flowed from that fountain: and that Luke doeth now more plainly express, that there brake out now also fans, out of that very same sect, from whence the authors of that wicked dissension came. For though they had given Christ their names, yet there remained relics of their former nature. We know how proud the Pharisees were, how haughty, how lofty their looks were: all which they would have forgotten, if they had truly put on Christ. like as there remained no pharisaism in Paul, but a great part had gotten the habit of stubbornness by long custom which they could not shake off so easily by and by. Forasmuch as there reigned most of all among them hypocrisy: they were too much addicted to external rites, which are coverings for vices. They were likewise puffed up with pride, so that they did tyrannously covet to make all other men subject to their decrees. It is well known how sore sick the monks are of both diseases. Whereby it cometh to pass that nothing is more cruel than they ⟨p. 356⟩to oppress the Church, nothing is more wicked or froward then they to despise the word of god. Moreover we see many of them which came out of those dens which have cast from them their cowl, and yet […] they never forget those conditions which they learned there.

5 Certaine of the sect of the Pharisees. It is not without cause that Luke expresseth what kinde of men they were, which went about to trouble or hinder Paul euen at Ierusalem also. And it is to bee thought that the euill flowed from that fountaine: and that Luke doeth nowe more plainely expresse, that there brake out nowe also fannes, out of that verie same fect, from whence the authours of that wicked dissention came. For though they had giuen Christ their names, yet there remained reliques of their former nature. We knowe howe proude the Pharisees were, howe hautie, howe loftie their lookes were: all which they woulde haue forgotten, if they had truely put on Christ. like as there remained no phariseisme in Paul, but a great part had gotten the habite of stubbernnesse by long custome which they could not shake off so easily by and by. Forasmuch as there reigned most of all among them hypocrisie: they were too much addicted to external rites, which are couerings for vices. They were likewise puffed vp with pride, so that they did tyrannously couet to make all other men subiect to their decrees. It is wel knowne how sore sicke the munks are of both diseases. Wherby it commeth to passe that nothing is more cruel than they