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…

16 Stephen saith, that the Patriarchs were carried into the land of Canaan,¹ after they were dead. But Moses maketh mention only of the bones of Joseph. And Joshua 24. it is reported, that the bones of Joseph were buried without making any mention of the rest. Some answer that Moses speaketh of Joseph for honours sake, because he had given express commandment concerning his bones: which we cannot read to have bin done of the rest. And surely when Jerome in the pilgrimage of Paula, saith, that she came by Shechem, he saith that she saw there the sepulchres of the 12. Patriarchs: but in another place he maketh mention of Josephs grave only. And it may be that there were empty tombs erected to the rest. I can affirm nothing concerning this matter for a certainty, save only that this is either a speech wherein is Synecdoche: or else that Luke rehearseth this not so much out of Moses, as according to the old fame: as the Jews had many things in times past from the fathers, which were delivered as it were from hand to hand. And whereas he saith afterward they were laid in the sepulchre which Abraham had bought of the sons of Hemor,² it is manifest that there is a fault in the word Abraham. For Abraham had bought a double cave of Ephron the Hittite to bury his wife Sarah in: but Joseph was buried in another place: to wit, in the field which his father Jacob had bought of the sons of Hemor, for an hundred lambs. Wherefore this place must be amended.

16 Steeuē saith, that the Patriarks were carried into the land of Chanaan,¹ after they wer dead. But Moses maketh mētiō only of the bones of Ioseph. And Iosua 24. it is reported, that the bones of Ioseph were buried without making any mention of the rest. Some answer that Moses speaketh of Ioseph for honors sake, bicause he had giuen expresse cōmandement concerning his bones: which we cannot read to haue bin done of the rest. And surely when Ierome in the pilgrimage of Paula, saith, that she came by Sichem, he saith that she saw there the sepulchres of the 12. Patriarks: but in another place he maketh mentiō of Iosephs graue only. And it may be that there were emptie tombes erected to the rest. I cā affirme nothing concerning this matter for a certaintie, saue onely that this is either a speech wherein is Synecdoche: or els that Luke rehearseth this not so much out of Moses, as according to the old fame: as the Iewes had many things in times past from the fathers, which were deliuered as it were from hand to hand. And whereas hee saith afterwarde they were laid in the sepulchre which Abrahā had bought of the sons of Hemor,