ACC ~ Acts 7 v5

THE REWARD OF OBEDIENCE. CHRYSOSTOM: He shows here that the promise had been made before the place, before the circumcision, before sacrifice and before the temple. He also shows that it was not by merit that these people received either circumcision or law, but that obedience alone secured the land as its reward. And even though the circumcision has been given, the promise is not yet fulfilled. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15.

AWAITING THE PROMISE OF GOD. IRENAEUS: Thus did [Abraham] await patiently the promise of God and was unwilling to appear to receive from people what God had promised to give him, when he said again to him as follows, “I will give this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt even to the great river Euphrates.” If, then, God promised him the inheritance of the land, yet he did not receive it during all the time of his sojourn there, it must be, that together with his seed, that is, those who fear God and believe in him, he shall receive it at the resurrection of the just. For his seed is the church, which receives the adoption to God through the Lord, as John the Baptist said, “For God is able from the stones to raise up children to Abraham.” AGAINST HERESIES 5.32.2.

THE RIGHTEOUS DO NOT STAGGER. CHRYSOSTOM: Do you see how what occurred contradicted the promise? Again he said, “In Isaac will your seed be named,” and Abraham believed. Then he says, “Offer to me as sacrifice this,” while this was the one who was to fill all the world from his seed. Did you notice the contradiction between the commands and the promise? He commanded what was in opposition to the promises. Yet not even so did the just man lose his head or say that he had been deceived. ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 25.1.

Acts