Acts 13:21

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 13:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.
Acts 13:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
21And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And afterward they desired a king, etc.] (<090805>1 Samuel 8:5) which the Jews f669 say, was in the tenth year of Samuel; that is, of his government over Israel, or of his judging them: and God gave unto them Saul; whose name signifies one that is asked; he was the son of Cis; so the Septuagint read and pronounce the word “Kish”, the name of Saul’s father, (<090901>1 Samuel 9:1) a man of the tribe of Benjamin; not of Judah, from whence the sceptre was not to depart till Shiloh came; the business of their asking a king being resented by God, he gives them their first king of another tribe: by the space of forty years. The Jews are very much divided about the years of Saul’s reign, some allow…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“God gave . . . them Saul . . . of the tribe of Benjamin--That the speaker was himself of the same name and of the same tribe, has often been noticed as in all likelihood present to the apostle's mind while speaking. forty years--With this length of Saul's reign (not mentioned in the Old Testament), JOSEPHUS coincides [Antiquities, 6.14.9].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And afterward they desired a king - See 1 Samuel 8:5; Hosea 13:10. It was predicted that they would have a king, Deuteronomy 17:14-15. Saul, the son of Cis - is the Greek mode of writing the Hebrew name Kish. In the Old Testament it is uniformly written as “Kish,” and it is to be regretted that this has not been retained in the New Testament. See 1 Samuel 9:1. By the space of forty years - During forty years. The Old Testament has not mentioned the time during which Saul reigned. Josephus says (Antiq., book 6, chapter 14, section 9) that he reigned for 18 years while Samuel was alive, and 22 years after his death. But Dr. Doddridge (note in loco) has shown that this cannot be correct, and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He gave them Saul forty years - Including the time wherein Samuel judged Israel. Acts 13:22”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“they: 1Sam. 8:5-22, Sa1 12:12-19 Saul: Sa1 10:1, Sa1 10:21-26, Sa1 11:15, Sa1 15:1 Cis: Sa1 9:1, Sa1 9:2, Sa1 10:21, Kish Acts 13:22”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification