John Calvin Commentary Acts 7:9

"And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him," — Acts 7:9 (ASV)

Now follows the greatest wickedness of the nation of Israel: they conspired together to oppress their innocent brother, a cruelty that is contrary to nature. Nor could the Jews object that this was a private fault of only a few, for the infamy extends to all the people.

Since all the patriarchs, Benjamin excepted, had polluted themselves with that treachery, Stephen, by granting them an honorable name, actually contributes to the greater reproach of the nation. They boasted proudly of their fathers; he shows what kind of persons the chief among them were: namely, murderers of their brother, as much as was in their power.

For, besides slavery being a kind of death, we know what they intended at first and, secondly, what cruel punishments Joseph suffered, for all of which his brothers were guilty. From this it appears that God was generous and merciful to those who were, so to speak, unwilling, and who resisted Him.

They would have destroyed him who was about to be the author of salvation and help. Therefore, they did what they could to renounce all the benefits of God. So Stephen will declare afterward that Moses was rejected when he was offered by God to be a redeemer.

Therefore, the Jews have little reason to boast of the excellence of their ancestry. Instead, this alone remains for them: that, being ashamed, they confess that whatever they are, they are so purely through the mercy of God, and that they consider the law was given to make this known.

God was with him. God was not with him in such a way that He always displayed His power in helping him. For that is no small thing which is said in Psalm 105:18: That the iron went through his soul. Surely, it must be that he was in great sorrow when, lacking all help, he also suffered reproach together with bonds and the punishment of an ungodly and wicked man.

But God often is present with His own in such a way that He lies hidden for a time. And the end was an evident sign of His presence, which Joseph did not see at first.

Furthermore, we ought to remember this from time to time: Joseph was not delivered because he had called upon God in the temple, but far away in Egypt.