The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no not the breadth of a foot: and promised that he would give it him to possess, and to his seed after him, when as he had no son. 6 And God spake after this manner: Thy seed shall sojourn in a strange land, and they shall bring it into bondage: and shall evil entreat it forty years. 7 But the nation whom they shall serve, will I judge, said God. And afterward they shall come out and shall worship me in this place. 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so he begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eight day. And Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

5 And he gaue him none inheritance in it, no not the breadth of a foot: and promised that he would giue it him to possesse, and to his seed after him, when as he had no sonne. 6 And God spake after this manner: Thy seed shall soiourne in a strange land, and they shall bring it into bondage: and shall euill intreat it fortie yeres. 7 But the nation whom they shall serue, will I iudge, said God. And afterwarde they shall come out and shal worship me in this place. 8 And he gaue him the couenant of circumcision; and so hee begate Isaach, and circumcised him the eight day. And Isaach begate Iacob, and Iacob begate the twelue patriarkes.

5 We must note three things in this place: that GOD exercised the patience of his servant, because after that he had brought him out of his own country, he dwelt in the land of Canaan as a stranger. For Abraham possessed not one foots breadth, save only that which he bought to bury in. And that is counted no possession which serveth not for the uses of this life. Secondly forasmuch as that field was bought, Steven doth for good causes say, that God gave Abraham nothing. For that could not be gotten either with money, or by any other means which man could invent, which Abraham did hope for of the promise. Secondly we must note, that though God did not show Abraham the thing it self as yet, yet did he uphold him by his word. And this is our stay, when God promiseth that that is laid up for us, which as yet we possess not. Therefore when as the thing, that is the possession of the land was wanting, Abraham had for his help and stay the promise of God: and being content with the same alone, he desired nothing in the land of Canaan