John Calvin Commentary Acts 7:16

"and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor in Shechem." — Acts 7:16 (ASV)

Stephen says that the patriarchs were carried into the land of Canaan after they died. But Moses mentions only the bones of Joseph (Genesis 1:13). And in Joshua 24:32, it is reported that the bones of Joseph were buried without any mention being made of the rest. Some answer that Moses speaks of Joseph for honor's sake, because he had given an express command concerning his bones, which we do not read was done by the rest.

And surely, when Jerome, in the pilgrimage of Paula, says that she came by Shechem, he says that she saw there the sepulchers of the twelve patriarchs; but in another place he mentions Joseph's grave only. And it may be that empty tombs were erected for the rest.

I can affirm nothing concerning this matter with certainty, except that this is either a statement containing synecdoche, or else that Luke recounts this not so much from Moses as according to ancient tradition; as the Jews in times past had many things from their ancestors, which were passed down, as it were, from hand to hand.

And when Stephen says afterward that they were laid in the sepulcher which Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor, it is clear that there is an error [mistake] in the name Abraham. For Abraham had bought a double cave from Ephron the Hittite (Genesis 23:9) to bury his wife Sarah in; but Joseph was buried in another place, namely, in the field which his father Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for a hundred lambs. Therefore, this passage must be amended.