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…

Thy seed shall be a stranger. Steven putteth the Jews in mind in how miserable and reproachful an estate their fathers were in Egypt: and showeth that this their servitude, wherewith they were oppressed came not by chance: because it was foretold long before by the oracle of God. This history ought to have bin of great force, partly to tame their lofty courages, and to teach them modesty, partly to set forth the grace of God: because God had always had a care of that nation. For this is a singular benefit in that the people are restored wonderfully as it were from death to life. In the mean season the Jews are taught that the church of God was elsewhere, than in the land wherein they dwelt: that the fathers were chosen to be a peculiar people, and that they were kept safe under the tuition of God, before ever the temple was built: or the external ceremonies of the law were instituted. These things appertain unto the general scope or drift of the sermon. But hence may we gather a profitable admonition. Bondage is of it self hard and bitter: but when cruelty of masters is added thereunto, it seemeth to be intolerable. Wherefore it must needs be that the mind of the godly man was sore wounded, when he heard that his seed should serve and be villainously and cruelly entreated. Moreover this was no small trial: forasmuch as these things were, to look to, contrary, the inheritance of the land of Canaan which was now promised, and bondage in a strange country. For who would not have thought, that god had as it were forgotten his former promise, when as he telleth Abraham that his seed shall endure miserable bondage? He saith at the first that he will give his seed the land. But he had as yet no seed: yea all hope of seed was now cut ⟨p. 142⟩off. But when doth he promise that he will give it? After his death. By & by he saith, that that seed should be carried away to another place, that it may serve strangers. And how long? Four hundred years. Doth he not seem by this means to pull back his hand, that he may not perform that which he had promised? Let us know that this was done (not once only) for god dealeth oftentimes with us thus, so that he may seem contrary to himself: and he speaketh also in such sort as that he may seem to call back that which he had promised.

Thy seed shalbe a stranger. Steuen putteth the Iewes in mind in how miserable and reprochfull an estate their fathers were in Egipt: and sheweth that this their seruitude, wherwith they were oppressed came not by chaunce: because it was fortolde long before by the oracle of God. This historie ought to haue bin of great force, partly to tame their loftie courages, and to teach them modestie, partly to set foorth the grace of God: because God had alwayes had a care of that nation. For this is a singular benefite in that the people are restored wonderfully as it were from death to life. In the meane season the Iewes are taught that the church of God was elswhere, than in the land wherein they dwelt: that the fathers were chosen to be a peculiar people, and that they were kept safe vnder the tuition of God, before euer the temple was built: or the externall ceremonies of the law were instituted. These things appertain vnto the generall scope or drift of the sermon. But hence may wee gather a profitable admonition. Bondage is of it selfe hard and bitter: but when crueltie of masters is added thereunto, it seemeth to be intollerable. Wherefore it must needes be that the minde of the godly man was sore wounded, when he heard that his seed should serue and bee villanouslie and cruelly intreated. Moreouer this was no small tryall: forasmuch as these thinges were, to looke to, contrarie, the enheritance of the lande of Chanaan which was nowe promised, and bondage in a strange countrie. For who woulde not haue thought, that god had as it were forgotten his former promise, when as he telleth Abraham that his seede shall endure miserable bondage? He saith at the first that he wil giue his seed the lande. But he had as yet no seed: yea all hope of seed was nowe cut