John Calvin Commentary Acts 2:43

"And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles." — Acts 2:43 (ASV)

And there came. He signifies to us that the outward manifestation and presence of the Church was such that it made others afraid who did not consent to its doctrine; and that was done for the preserving and furthering of the Church. When any new movement arises, all men set themselves resolutely against it; and as novelty is odious, the Jews would never have allowed the Church of Christ to stand for even a minute, unless the Lord had restrained them with fear as with a bridle.

Furthermore, Luke notes the manner of fear: it was not such fear as brings men to the obedience of Christ, but such as causes men to stand in doubt, and so, consequently, as it were, so binds them hand and foot that they dare not hinder the Lord’s work.

Just as there are some today who willingly remain ignorant of the gospel, or, at least, are so engrossed by the cares of this world that they cannot thoroughly join themselves to Christ; and yet they are not so hard-hearted that they fail to confess that the truth is on our side. Therefore, they remain, as it were, in a middle way, nor do they favor the cruelty of the wicked, because they are afraid to strive against God.

And when he says, Every soul, he speaks this way by synecdoche. For it is certain that many despised the hand of God, and that some others were stricken with no great fear, but instead furiously raged together against the Church. But Luke’s meaning was this: that such power of God appeared in the Church that most of the people had not one word to say.

And many wonders. This part also serves to show the cause. For the miracles served to make them afraid, together with other works of God, although this was not the only reason, but one of many, why they were afraid to set themselves against God, who, as they gathered from the miracles, was on that side. From this we gather that miracles are not only profitable for bringing men to God, but also for making the wicked somewhat more gentle, and for taming their fury.

Pharaoh was a man of desperate stubbornness (Exodus 8:8 and following, and Exodus 8:19), and yet we see how miracles sometimes pierce his obstinate heart. He forgets them soon; but when the hand of God is heavy upon him, he is compelled by fear to yield. To be brief, Luke teaches that the Jews were by this means restrained, so that the Church, which might easily have been destroyed, might raise its head.

This is something we have often experienced even in our time. And he does not only declare that they were bridled with fear, lest they should be so bold as to attempt all the harm they lusted to inflict on the Church, but also that they were humbled with reverence for the glory of the gospel.