John Calvin Commentary Acts 7:26

"And the day following he appeared unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?" — Acts 7:26 (ASV)

The day following he appeared. Stephen declares now that the forefathers not only neglected, but maliciously rejected the grace of God. For although the evil which he mentions proceeded from one man only, yet he rightly assigns the fault to them all. For if they had been thankful to God, they would all with one consent have repressed his presumption.

But they are silent, and allow the good deed Moses had done to be used as a reproach against him; and, as much as was in their power, they bring into extreme danger those whom they ought to have defended by endangering themselves. Therefore, his point is this: that the people themselves were at fault that they were not delivered and relieved sooner.

So the wickedness of men often hinders God from doing what he would do. He is ready to help his people in due time, but we keep back his hand from ourselves with various hindrances, and afterwards we unjustly complain of his slowness. Furthermore, this ingratitude was very wicked against God, and very cruel against Moses.

They should have thanked God for giving such a faithful advocate in the king’s court. They should have loved and reverenced Moses; but they repaid him very badly with threats and reproaches. Furthermore, since the matter was brought to the king’s ears, we must indeed attribute that to the treachery of the people.

Therefore, just as when afterwards the people could see the land of Canaan, through their own folly they kept themselves from entering, so now, by refusing the grace of God offered through one man, they cause the time of their deliverance to be deferred forty years. For although God had determined what he would do, yet those who hinder Moses in his office are justly blamed for the delay.

Men, you are brethren. There is, indeed, among men a common bond, so that they ought to use great courtesy towards one another, and to abstain from all injuries; but this is more improper and intolerable when those hurt one another who are more closely linked together. Therefore, Moses not only uses a general reason, to turn back the minds of those who desired to do harm, but he mentions their kinship and blood relation to soften their cruelty.

Yet all in vain; for he who had done injury to his neighbor aggressively pushes him away, and adds threats to it. And this is a common thing among men; for an evil conscience drives men into a fury, and the worse every man’s cause is, the more boldly and cruelly he exalts himself.

But under what pretext does he who has the worst cause set himself so stubbornly against Moses? He says he is no judge; but Moses did not reprove them with authority, but only admonished them in a friendly manner. Is it the duty of a judge alone to admonish us when we do wrong?

But this is a common vice, common to all stubborn and unruly persons, to yield to no admonitions, except when they are enforced by violence and authority; indeed, they are like frenzied men who rail against their physicians. For this reason, we must be the more careful to bridle our lust, lest we run headlong with such blind fury against those who desire to cure our vices.

Furthermore, we are taught by this example that the servants of God cannot do their duty in reproving such vices of men without suffering many injuries, offending many, and incurring dangers; and especially when they do well, they will surely be spoken ill of. But they must endure the indignity of these evils, so that they do not therefore cease to do what the Lord commanded them, and what he approves.

Moses is burdened here with a cruel false accusation that he usurps the authority of a ruler, and by this, they charge him with treason. Secondly, it is reproachfully objected against him that he slew an Egyptian; both of these accusations were very odious.

From this we may gather what a dangerous temptation struck the mind of the holy man. And since we see that he was neither discouraged by exile, nor by any other evils, so that he did not regret his good deeds, let us also learn by his example to maintain a valiant and strong mind and courage against all such assaults of Satan,