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…

25 With our beloved Barnabas & Paul. They set these praises against the slanders wherewith the false apostles had assayed to bring Paul & Barnabas out of credit. And first to the end they may remove the opinion of disagreement which had possessed the minds of many, they testify their consent: secondly, they commend Paul & Barnabas for their ferventness in zeal, & most manlike courage, that they were not afraid to venture or lay down their souls for Christs sake. And this is an excellent virtue in a minister of the gospel, & which deserveth no small praise, if he shall not only be stout and courageous to execute the office of teaching: but also be ready to enter danger which is offered in defence of his doctrine. ⟨p. 376⟩As the Lord doth thus try the faith and constancy of those which be his: so he doth as it were make them noble with the ensigns of virtue, that they may excel in his church. Therefore Paul holdeth forth the marks of Christ which he did bear in his body, as a buckler to drive back those knaves which did trouble his doctrine.¹ And though it do not so fall out with most stout and courageous teachers & preachers of the gospel, that they strive for the Gospel until they come in danger of life, because the matter doth not so require: yet is this no let but that Christ may purchase authority for his martyrs, so often as he bringeth them into worthy & renowned conflicts. Nevertheless, let even those who are not enforced to enter combat by any necessity, be ready to shed their blood if god see it good at any time that it should be so. But the apostles commend the fortitude of Paul & Barnabas only in a good cause, because if it were sufficient to enter dangers manfully, the martyrs of Christ should nothing differ from troublesome & frenzy men, from cutters and roisters. Therefore Paul and Barnabas are commended, not because they laid open themselves simply to dangers, but because they refuse not to die for Christs sake. Peradventure also the apostles meant to nip those knaves by the way, who having never suffered any thing for Christs sake, came out of their roost and dainties to trouble the churches, which cost the courageous soldiers of Christ dearly.

25 With our beloued Barnabas & Paul. They set these praises against the slanders wherwith the false apostles had assayed to bring Paul & Barnabas out of credit. And first to the end they may remooue the opinion of disagreement which had possessed the minds of many, they testifie their consent: secondly, they commend Paul & Barnabas for their feruentnes in zeale, & most manlike courage, that they wer not afraid to venture or lay down their soules for Christs sake. And this is an excellent vertue in a minister of the gospel, & which deserueth no smal praise, if he shal not only be stout and couragious to execute the office of teaching: but also be readie to enter danger which is offered in defence of his doctrine.