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Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul, the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

Verse Takeaways

1

God's Plan in Human Failure

Commentators like Calvin and Spurgeon point out that Israel's demand for a king was a sinful rejection of God's direct rule. They wanted to be like other nations. Yet, in His sovereignty, God used their flawed request to advance His redemptive plan. He turned their 'offense into safety,' establishing the royal line that would ultimately lead to the promised Messiah, Jesus. This shows how God works His perfect will even through human failure.

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Acts

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Commentaries

11

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Acts 13:21

18th Century

Theologian

And afterward they desired a king. See 1 Samuel 8:5; Hosea 13:10. It was predicted that they would have a king,[Ref…

AT Robertson

AT Robertson

On Acts 13:21

They asked (ηιτησαντο). First aorist indirect middle indicative, they asked for themselves. They were tired of a theocracy. Cf. [R…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Acts 13:21

19th Century

Bishop

Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin.—It is natural to think of the Apostle as dwelling on the memory of the hero-k…

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Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon

On Acts 13:20–21

19th Century

Preacher

And after that he gave to them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they desired a king:

Expositor's Bible Commentary

Expositor's Bible Commentary

On Acts 13:21

Paul’s exhortation begins with a review of Israel’s history that emphasizes the pattern of God’s redemptive activity from Abraham to David. It is a…

John Calvin

John Calvin

On Acts 13:21

16th Century

Theologian

Afterward they desire. And this change was equivalent to them completely and clearly overthrowing the government which He had appointed, a…

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John Gill

John Gill

On Acts 13:21

17th Century

Pastor

And afterward they desired a king
(1 Samuel 8:5) which the Jews F23 say, was in the tenth yea…

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Acts 13:14–31

17th Century

Minister

When we come together to worship God, we must do so not only through prayer and praise, but also by reading and hearing the word of God. Merely rea…