John Calvin Commentary Acts 5:17

"But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy," — Acts 5:17 (ASV)

Luke has until now declared that the Church was wonderfully increased, that it was furnished with diverse gifts, that it excelled in miracles; finally, that the kingdom of Christ flourished there by all means. Now he begins to show that the fury of the wicked was kindled by these things, so that they raged more severely afresh.

From this we may gather with what blind fury and rage Satan drives them forward, when they are so little terrified by such evident power of God, that they run headlong more boldly, and with greater force, and bend all their strength, as it were, to overthrow the very heaven.

As this great blindness is a horrible punishment from Almighty God, so it ought to teach all people to submit themselves promptly to God, lest they themselves, being seized by a spirit of recklessness (while they run against the hand of God), be broken in pieces by it.

Nevertheless, let us know that God will so increase His Church with spiritual good things that, notwithstanding, He allows it to be afflicted by the wicked. Therefore, we must always be ready for combat, for our condition today is not unlike theirs.

Especially, the knowledge of the gifts of God, by which He testifies that He is present with us, ought to encourage us, lest the fury and boldness of the wicked terrify and dismay us. For this is no small comfort, when we know that God is present with us.

Which were with him. He means those who were most familiar and most closely linked in friendship with the chief priest, whose counsel he was accustomed to use, and whom he had, as it were, gathered and selected from the whole order, not for judgment or discretion, but for their devotion to his faction, as they then contended among themselves shamelessly, like mortal enemies.

Furthermore, Luke says again that the Sadducees held the greatest sway in those days, so that we may know that the government was then marred by terrible ruin, when such a sect could hold power.

But God allowed the synagogue to be drowned in such extreme reproach after He had separated His Church from it, so that those who, despising the gospel, continued in such a sink of filthiness might have less excuse.

Meanwhile, what compelled and drove forward those swine, who had no concern for the life to come, except for mere ambition and the desire to keep the lordship and pre-eminence which they had obtained?

They were filled with zeal. I would rather keep the Greek word (especially since it is otherwise common enough) than translate it emulation (or indignation), for he speaks generally of the perverse and violent force with which hypocrites are carried away and inflamed to maintain their superstitions. This shows how God regards zeal, and what praise it deserves, when it is not governed by reason and wisdom—that is, when it is not led and guided by the Spirit of God.

We see today those men moved and stirred with devilish fury, who wish to be considered the most devout of all, raging horribly to shed innocent blood. Nevertheless, let us note that he is not speaking here of an ill-advised or blind zeal, such as Paul affirms was in many of the Jews, but it refers rather to a hot and unbridled violence. For although the wicked are accused by their own consciences because they knowingly resist godliness, yet they deceive themselves with a false show of zeal, under the pretext that it is lawful to prevent new things.

So today, almost in all Popery, they boast only of zeal, while, notwithstanding, they are zealous for their belly. But suppose we grant that what they pretend is true, how can this excuse the heat of their cruelty, to which they are driven by their blindness? It is as if it were a chief virtue to give free rein to their wrath, to take revenge on whatever displeases them. But this should have come first: to distinguish between good and evil, lest anything be overturned rashly.