John Calvin Commentary Acts 4:24

"And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:" — Acts 4:24 (ASV)

This example teaches us what our duty is when our adversaries imperiously threaten us. We must not carelessly laugh in times of danger; instead, the fear of danger ought to drive us to earnestly seek help from God. This is a remedy to comfort and strengthen us, lest, terrified by threats, we stop doing our duty.

There is a twofold fruit from this history: first, that Christ's disciples do not jest when they hear that their enemies threaten them so severely and press so hard upon them, as careless and sluggish men usually do. Instead, being touched by fear, they hasten to seek help from God. Second, they are not terrified, nor do they conceive any excessive fear, but earnestly ask God for invincible constancy with truly godly petitions.

Thou art God, which hast created. Although this title and commendation of God’s power is general, it ought to be related to the present matter. For they acknowledge God's power in the creation of the whole world in such a way that they also apply it to the present situation.

Similarly, the prophets often emphasize this, so that they may alleviate the fear that troubles us when we behold the power of our enemies. Secondly, they add the promise to it, and they make these two the foundations of their boldness, which emboldens them to pray.

And surely, our prayers are as they ought to be and acceptable to God only when, relying on His promises and power, we pray with certain hope of obtaining what we pray for. For we cannot otherwise have any true confidence unless God invites us to come to Him and promises that He is ready to help us, and secondly, unless we acknowledge that He is able enough to help us.

Therefore, let the faithful exercise themselves in this twofold meditation whenever they prepare for prayer.

Furthermore, we gather from this how we ought to consider the creation of the world: namely, that we may know that all things are subject to God and ruled by His will. And when the world has done all it can, nothing else will come to pass but what God has decreed.

Indeed, the rebelliousness of the wicked is monstrous, as if the clay should resist the potter.

For this is the general understanding of the faithful: that whatever dangers hang over their heads, God can still prevent them in infinite ways, since all things are in His hand, and He is able to make all the parts of heaven and earth (which He has created) obey Him.