John Calvin Commentary Acts 13:18

"And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness." — Acts 13:18 (ASV)

He suffered their manners. The compound verb has greater force and grace in the Greek, by which the mercifulness of God is expressed in bearing with the people, whom He knew to be stubborn and disobedient. And Paul helps us understand again that the election of God was the reason His goodness contended with the wickedness of the people. Nevertheless, we must note that God took such pity on His elect people, while He would remain firm in His purpose, that He nevertheless sharply punished the rebellious and wicked. Indeed, He spared the people, so that He did not completely destroy them, as He rightly could have; but He also found means by which their wickedness would not remain unpunished. And so the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled:

“If the multitude shall be as the sand of the sea,
a remnant shall be saved,” (Isaiah 10:22).