John Calvin Commentary Acts 17:5

"But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people." — Acts 17:5 (ASV)

And being moved with envy. We see how Paul could nowhere establish the kingdom of Christ without some conflict, for as soon as any fruit of doctrine appeared, persecution arose with it; but because he knew that he had to war against Satan and the wickedness of the world, he was not only hardened against all assaults, but he was also encouraged to proceed all the more courageously.

Therefore, all the servants of Christ must be content with his example: if they see that their labor yields some fruit, this reward must be their compensation for all kinds of persecutions. And this passage teaches that the zeal with which the unbelievers are carried headlong, and set on fire, is nothing but furious force, because it is not governed by the prudence of the Spirit, nor by righteousness or equity.

And though they always pretend the name of God as an excuse for their disordered zeal, yet this history plainly declares that mere hypocrisy reigns inwardly, and that all corners of their hearts are stuffed with poisoned malice. These enemies of Paul boasted that they were defenders of the law of God, and that they hated Paul and contended with him only in its defense.

Why then do they arm the wicked and conspire with them to cause a tumult? Why then do they also bring the gospel into such contempt before a secular magistrate, a contempt that could also have brought contempt upon the law? Such sedition plainly declares that they were motivated by anything but a desire to please God to be so hostile towards Paul. For to what end do they surround Jason’s house and strive in a disorderly way to drag Paul out from there, except to set him before the people to be stoned? Therefore, let us understand that wicked zeal, which is fervent (the original text notes it 'boils') in superstitious men, is always infected with hypocrisy and malice; and this is why it breaks out into cruelty without any restraint.

Taking to them certain vagabonds. The Greek word Luke uses signifies sluggards, and men of no account, who, having nothing with which to keep themselves occupied at home, ran up and down idly; or bold (the original text clarifies this as 'audacious') and hungry fellows, who are ready to perjure themselves to cause tumults and to be involved in every wicked deed.

From this it also appears that their own conscience told them that they were doing wrong, since they enlisted wicked men to take their side and support them. For since the magistrate favored them, what moved them to stir up that turmoil, except that they had no hope of success unless matters were thrown into disorder and everything was in an uproar?

And Luke describes how such instigators stirred up sedition; namely, they gathered the people together in groups and spread their poison here and there, until they were strong enough to make an assault. This tactic (the original text clarifies this as 'artifice') is all too common among seditious individuals, as those cities that are subject to this trouble know very well.