John Calvin Commentary Acts 28:6

"But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god." — Acts 28:6 (ASV)

Changing their minds, they said. This truly wonderful and sudden change should have deeply affected the men of Malta and moved them to give glory to the mercy of God, as they had previously attributed events to vengeance. But as human reason is always carried astray to extremes, they suddenly made Paul a god, whom they had previously considered a wicked murderer.

But if he had to be one or the other, it would have been better for him to be considered a murderer than a god. Indeed, Paul would rather have wished to be condemned, not only for one crime, but also to have endured all shame, and to have been thrust down into the deep pit of hell, than to take God's glory for himself—something those who had heard him preach amidst the storms knew very well.

Nevertheless, it may be that, after being taught later, they confessed that God was the author of the miracle.

Furthermore, let us learn from this history to wait with patient and quiet minds for the favorable outcome of things which at first seem to tend toward robbing God of His honor. Which of us would not have been terrified by this spectacle, which armed the wicked to slander the glory of the gospel with all kinds of slanderous speeches?

Yet we see how God, in due time, prevented this problem. Therefore, let us not doubt that after He has allowed His glory to be darkened by clouds of slander, He will send a remedy at the right time and will turn their darkness into light. In the meantime, let us remember that we must beware of the judgment of the flesh.

And because people always tend to forget their limits, let us ask God for the Spirit of moderation, that He may always keep us in the right balance. Furthermore, let us learn from this how ready the world is to fall into superstition. Indeed, this wickedness is, in a way, born with us: the desire to adorn creatures with what we take from God.

Therefore, it is no wonder that new errors have spread in all ages, since every one of us is an expert in inventing idols, even from his mother's womb. But lest people excuse themselves with this, this history testifies that the source of superstitions is that people are unthankful to God and give His glory to another.