But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Ver. 9. But when divers were hardened] Hardness of heart is either natural or habitual: and this again is increased either by doing (that is, by resisting the word of God), or by suffering it to pass by us without amendment of life.
He departed from them and separated] So did Zuinglius and Luther separate from the Papists for like reason. It was laid to Luther's charge that he was an apostate. Confitetur se esse apostatam, sed beatum et sanctum, qui fidem diabolo datam non servavit. An apostate he confessed himself; but one that had fallen off from the devil only.
In the school of one Tyrannus] In one ancient copy it is added, "From the fifth hour to the tenth hour:" so indefatigable a preacher was Paul, a very χαλκεντερος, or iron-sides. He had a golden wit in an iron body, as one saith of Julius Scaliger.