And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Ver. 13. And he doth great wonders] By his art of magic; for true miracles he can do none, nor his master the dragon to help him. Hence they are called lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:9,10, sorceries, Revelation 18:23, and impostures here,Revelation 13:14 .
So that he maketh fire] As another Elias. This the pope doth daily by his excommunications, casting firebrands, as it were, from on high at those that slight him; and moreover he telleth us of some, that for withstanding his edicts were thunderstruck to death. (Aventin. Annal.)