It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.
Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors.
All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised.
Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him.