ACC ~ Acts 7 v6

GOD ALLOWS US TO BE TRIED. CHRYSOSTOM: Notice how many years ago was the promise made and the way in which it was made, and no mention of sacrifice anywhere, or of circumcision. Here he shows how God himself allowed them to suffer terribly, and yet he had no complaint against them. Nevertheless their enemies did act with impunity. “‘But I will judge the nation which they serve,’ said God.” For it was to prevent them from judging people as pious according to the saying, “He puts his trust in God; now let God rescue him”that he, who promised and who gave the land, first permits the sufferings. Likewise also now, even though he had promised a kingdom, he allows us to practice obedience through trial. It was only after four hundred years that the freedom came, so is it any wonder that one has to wait in the case of the kingdom? Nonetheless he did what he promised, and time did not prevail to cast into falsehood his word. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16.

SOJOURNERS IN A STRANGE COUNTRY. BEDE: This is not to be understood as meaning that he said that this offspring was to be mistreated or subjected to slavery for four hundred years. Rather, by hyperbaton it should be read in the sense that his offspring would be wanderers for four hundred years, and during part of that time slavery too would fall to their lot. “Because it is written, ‘In Isaac your offspring will be called,’ there are counted from the year of Isaac’s birth to the year of the departure from Egypt 405 years (which Scripture according to its usual practice calls 400), during which that offspring would be wanderers, either in the land of Canaan or in Egypt.” It can thus be understood that the hardship of 400 years may be counted from Isaac’s fifth year, during which he began to be ill-treated by the son of the slave girl.COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7.6.

Acts