Heb 11:1
11:1 Now {1} faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
     evidence of things not seen.

 (1) An excellent description of faith by the effects, because
     it represents things which are but yet in hope, and sets as
     it were before our eyes things that are invisible.

Heb 11:2
11:2 {2} For by it the {a} elders obtained a good report.

 (2) He shows that the fathers ought to be accounted of by this
     virtue.
     (a) That is, those fathers from whom we came: and whose
         authority and example ought to move us very much.

Heb 11:3
11:3 {3} Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed
     by the word of God, so that things which are {b} seen were
     not made of things which do appear.

 (3) He shows the property of faith, by setting before us most
     cautious examples of those who from the beginning of the
     world excelled in the Church.
     (b) So that the world which we see, was not made from any
         matter that appeared or was before, but from nothing.

Heb 11:4
11:4 {4} By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent
     sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he
     was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he
     being dead yet speaketh.

 (4) Abel.

Heb 11:5
11:5 {5} By faith Enoch was translated that he should not {c}
     see death; and was not found, because God had translated
     him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that
     he pleased God.

 (5) Enoch.
     (c) That he should not die.

Heb 11:6
11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for
     he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that]
     he is a {d} rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

     (d) This reward is not referred to our merits, but to the
         free promise, as Paul teaches in Abraham the father of
         all the faithful, Ro 4:4.

Heb 11:7
11:7 {6} By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen
     as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of
     his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became
     heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

 (6) Noah.

Heb 11:8
11:8 {7} By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a
     place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
     obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

 (7) Abraham and Sarah.

Heb 11:10
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath {e} foundations, whose
      builder and maker [is] God.

      (e) This foundation is contrasted with their tabernacle.

Heb 11:12
11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as {f}
      dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and
      as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

      (f) As unlikely to bear children, as if he had been dead.

Heb 11:13
11:13 These all died in {g} faith, not having received the {h}
      promises, but having seen them afar off, and were
      persuaded of [them], and {i} embraced [them], and
      confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
      earth.

      (g) In faith, which they had while they lived, and
          followed, them even to their grave.
      (h) This is the figure metonymy, for the things promised.
      (i) For the patriarchs were given to profess their
          religion by building an altar and calling on the name
          of the Lord when they received the promises.

Heb 11:17
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was {k} tried, offered up Isaac:
      and he that had received the {l} promises offered up his
      only begotten [son],

      (k) Tried by the Lord.
      (l) Although the promises of life were made in that only
          begotten son Isaac, yet he appointed him to die; and
          so against hope he believed in hope.

Heb 11:19
11:19 Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even
      from the dead; from {m} whence also he received him in {n}
      a figure.

      (m) From which death.
      (n) For there was not the true and very death of Isaac,
          but as it were the death, by means of which he seemed
          also to have risen again.

Heb 11:20
11:20 {8} By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning
      things to come.

 (8) Isaac.

Heb 11:21
11:21 {9} By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the
      sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of
      his staff.

 (9) Jacob.

Heb 11:22
11:22 {10} By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the
      departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment
      concerning his bones.

 (10) Joseph.

Heb 11:23
11:23 {11} By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three
      months of his parents, because they saw [he was] a proper
      child; and they were not {o} afraid of the king's
      commandment.

 (11) Moses.

Heb 11:25
11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of
      God, than to enjoy the {p} pleasures of sin for a season;

      (p) Such pleasures as he could not enjoy, unless he
          provoked God's wrath against him.

Heb 11:29
11:29 {12} By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry
      [land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

 (12) The Red Sea.

Heb 11:30
11:30 {13} By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they
      were compassed about seven days.

 (13) Jericho.

Heb 11:31
11:31 {14} By faith the {q} harlot Rahab perished not with them
      that believed not, when she had received the {r} spies
      with peace.

 (14) Rahab.
      (q) A notable example of God's goodness.
      (r) Courteously and friendly, so that not only did she not
          hurt them, but also kept them safe.

Heb 11:32
11:32 {15} And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me
      to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and
      [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the
      prophets:

 (15) Gideon, Barak and other judges and prophets.

Heb 11:33
11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
      obtained {s} promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

      (s) The fruit of the promises.

Heb 11:35
11:35 {t} Women received their dead raised to life again: and
      others were {u} tortured, not accepting deliverance; that
      they might obtain a better resurrection:

      (t) He seems to mean the story of that woman of Sarepta,
          whose son Elijah raised again from the dead, and the
          Shunammite, whose son Elisha restored to his mother.
      (u) He means that perfection which Antiochus wrought.

Heb 11:37
11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted,
      were slain with the sword: they wandered about in {x}
      sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted,
      tormented;

      (x) In vile and rough clothing, so were the saints brought
          to extreme poverty, and constrained to live like
          beasts in the wilderness.

Heb 11:39
11:39 {16} And these all, having obtained a good report through
      faith, received {y} not the promise:

 (16) An amplification taken from the circumstance of the time:
      their faith is so much the more to be marvelled at, by how
      much the promises of things to come were more dark, yet at
      length were indeed exhibited to us, so that their faith
      and ours is as one, as is also their consecration and
      ours.
      (y) But saw Christ afar off.

Heb 11:40
11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they
      {z} without us should not be made perfect.

      (z) For their salvation depended on Christ, who was
          exhibited in our days.