John Calvin Commentary Acts 17:34

"But certain men clave unto him, and believed: among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them." — Acts 17:34 (ASV)

Among whom was also Dionysius. Since Luke names only one man and one woman, it appears that there was only a small number of those who believed at first. For the others he mentions remained indifferent, because they neither wholly despised Paul’s doctrine, nor were they so thoroughly touched that they joined themselves to him to become his scholars. Luke mentions Dionysius especially, because he was of considerable authority among his citizens. Therefore, it is likely that Damaris was also a woman of some renown.

Furthermore, it is ridiculous that the Papists have made an astrologer out of a judge. But this must be attributed partly to their ignorance and partly to their boldness; for since they did not know what Areopagus or Mars’ Hill meant, they took the liberty to invent whatever they pleased. And their ignorance is especially egregious in ascribing the books of the heavenly and ecclesiastical hierarchy, and of the names of God, to this Dionysius. For the heavenly hierarchy is stuffed not only with many foolish monastic trifles, but also with many absurd inventions and wicked speculations. And the books of the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy themselves declare that they were made many years later, when the purity of Christianity was corrupted with a huge heap of ceremonies. As for the book of the names of God, though it contains some things that are not entirely to be despised, yet it breathes out more of subtleties than sound godliness.