John Calvin Commentary Acts 13:32

"And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers," — Acts 13:32 (ASV)

We preach to you glad tidings. He now claims for himself the office and honor of an apostle, so that he may be heard as a lawful minister of God. And he says the essence of the message entrusted to him is that what is revealed and given in their time was promised in times past.

And in few words he conveys many and great matters. First, he makes them understand that he brings nothing new, or contrary to the law and prophets, but that he revealed the fulfillment of that doctrine which they themselves confessed and were persuaded had been delivered by God.

From this it follows that they cannot refuse what he offers them without, as far as it lies in them, breaking the covenant God made with the fathers. Secondly, he commends the faithfulness of God, because it now indeed appears that nothing was promised in times past rashly or in vain; but he chiefly extols the greatness of the grace finally given in Christ.

For we must note the comparison between them and the fathers, when he says that they had received what was promised to the fathers. For the more liberally the grace of God is poured out upon them, the more vile their ungratefulness will be if they despise or loathe that inestimable good thing.

For what else would this be, but to cast down at their feet a treasure that was reached out to them so they might take hold of it, and consequently laid in their lap—a treasure whose hope the fathers reverently embraced when it was shown to them from afar, and which they fostered throughout their lives?

But someone may ask this question concerning those who lived under the law: Did they not also share in the promises? I answer that there is such a fellowship of the same grace between us that the great distance in time does not prevent it.

But this was Paul’s meaning: that their faith remained, so to speak, in suspense until Christ appeared, in whom all the promises of God are yea and amen, as he teaches (2 Corinthians 1:19, 20).

Therefore, we are the heirs of the same kingdom of heaven and partakers of the same spiritual good things which God bestows upon His children. Also, God gave them some taste of His love in this life, just as we taste Him now.

But Christ, who is the substance of all good things and of eternal life, was only promised to them, whereas He is given to us. They desired Him, as He was then distant; we enjoy Him, He being present with us.