John Calvin Commentary Acts 14:19

"But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead." — Acts 14:19 (ASV)

There came. Paul and Barnabas can hardly prevent the people from offering sacrifice; but a group of scoundrels, with little effort, persuade them to stone Paul, whom recently they had made a god. This shows how much more people are inclined towards superstition than towards the true worship of God, and how arrogant superstition is, which will always hold the primary influence in determining the worship of God.

The servants of God seek nothing else but to bring people under His obedience, which alone is salvation and blessedness. They claim no lordship for themselves; they seek no profit; and yet the world cannot tolerate them. For almost all people grumble, and now and then tumults arise. Those who are so stubborn against God are too ready to believe deceivers and willingly submit themselves to their tyranny. So the Pope had freedom to deceive as he pleased, and not only to oppress wretched souls with slavery, but also to torment them cruelly. Whatever he commanded was obediently received, and even today, though he makes impossible laws, yet no one dares even to mutter against them. Nevertheless, the yoke of Christ is sweet (Matthew 11:30), and yet there are few who will endure it.

Therefore, in this account, the perversity of the world is most vividly portrayed to us. Paul might have reigned under the title of Mercury, with the praise of all people; he refuses to be a god. Because he serves Christ faithfully, he is stoned. His steadfastness is commended, so that we may follow it.

He was indeed wonderfully delivered by the Lord; but as for himself, he suffered a most cruel kind of death. Therefore, we must regard this testimony, which he also recounts in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:25), as if he had been killed. Furthermore, we need not doubt that the common people rose up against him outrageously. So that, whatever violence the wicked do to the servants of Christ, it is never questioned; the laws are silent; judgments cease; the magistrate is asleep; there is no protector to be found.