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…

12 And all the multitude kept silence, and heard Barnabas and Paul declare, what signs & wonders God had wrought by them among the Gentiles. 13 And after that they had done speaking, James answered, saying, Men & brethren hear me: 14 Simeon hath showed how at the first God hath visited that he might take of the Gentiles a people in his name. 15 And hereunto agree the words of the prophets, as it is written. 16 After these things I will return, and will build again the Tabernacle of ⟨p. 367⟩David, which is decayed, and I will restore the ruins thereof, and will set it up. 17 That the men which remain may seek the Lord, and all nations which call upon my name, saith the Lord which doth all these things. 18 Known from the beginning are all his works.

12 And all the multitude kept silence, and hearde Barnabas and Paule declare, what signes & wonders God had wrought by them among the Gentiles. 13 And after that they had done speaking, Iames answered, saying, Men & brethren heare me: 14 Simeon hath shewed how at the first God hath visited that he might take of the Gentiles a people in his name. 15 And hereunto agree the wordes of the prophetes, as it is written. 16 After these thinges I will returne, and will builde againe the Tabernacle of ⟨p. 367⟩Dauid, which is decayed, and I will restore the ruines thereof, and will set it vp. 17 That the men which remaine may seeke the Lorde, and all nations which cal vpon my name, saith the Lord which doth all these things. 18 Knowen from the beginning are all his workes.

12 All the multitude held their peace. By these words Luke giveth us to understand that the Spirit of God did so reign in that assembly, that they yielded forth with to reason. The disputation was hot before, but now after that Peter hath laid open the counsel of God, & hath handled the question according to the doctrine of the scripture, by & by all noise being stayed, they are quiet and whist, who did of late unadvisedly defend the error. This is a lively image of a lawful counsel, when the truth of God alone so soon as it is once come to light, maketh an end of all controversies: and assuredly it is effectual enough to appease all discord, when the Spirit beareth the chief sway: because he is again a fit governor, as well to moderate their tongues who must speak before other, as to keep the rest under obedience, that they be not too much addicted to themselves, and wedded to their own wills, but that laying away stubbornness they may show themselves obedient to god. Neither is it to be doubted but that there was some few which would not yield, as it falleth out in a great assembly: yet the truth of GOD had the upper hand, so that the silence whereof Luke speaketh, was a manifest testimony of common obedience. And this was no small moderation in Peter, in that having suffered every one to say for himself what he could: he deferred his judgement (least it should be prejudicial to others) so long, until the question had bin thoroughly discussed too and fro.