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Acts 13

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

But God raised him from the dead:

And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

What does Acts 13:22 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:22 recounts a part of the Apostle Paul's sermon at Antioch in Pisidia during his first missionary journey.

The verse speaks of God's removal of Saul as king over Israel and His appointment of David as Saul's successor.

The verse underscores David's special status as a king who aligns with God's own heart.

The phrase "a man after mine own heart" suggests that David has qualities or a disposition that is in harmony with God’s desires and will.

Additionally, the statement that David "shall fulfil all my will" indicates God's foreknowledge and affirmation that David would be obedient to God's commands and purposes.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The narrative of Acts is set in the first-century Mediterranean world, at a time when the early Christian church was expanding.

Acts 13:13-52 describes the events that occur when Paul and his partner Barnabas visit a synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia (not to be confused with Syrian Antioch), where Paul delivers a sermon recounting the history of Israel and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul's reference to David in this verse reaches back to the history of Israel found in the books of Samuel, when David was anointed as king over Israel by the prophet Samuel, as God had rejected Saul for his disobedience.

Theological Insights

There are several theological insights from Acts 13:22.

Firstly, it presents the doctrine of divine sovereignty, suggesting God's ultimate control and authority in appointing and removing kings.

Secondly, the verse reflects on the ideal of a God-centered leader, indicating that leadership should be evaluated not merely by external accomplishments but by one’s heart alignment with God’s purposes.

Thirdly, some theologians see a Christological interpretation, as David, a king after God's heart, may foreshadow Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills the will of the Father.

David's kingship symbolizes an ideal ruler, a type or precursor to the perfect King who is to come.

Practical Applications

Application of Acts 13:22 in daily life might encourage individuals to seek a heart that aligns with God's desires.

For leaders, it suggests prioritizing divine will over personal ambitions or societal expectations.

For followers, it encourages seeking leaders who display integrity and godly character.

On a personal level, individuals are reminded that God values obedience and a heart tuned to His will.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 13:14 - "But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee."
Psalm 89:20 - "I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:"
1 Kings 15:5 - "Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase “a man after mine own heart” is rendered “κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου ἄνδρα.” The word “καρδίαν” (kardian) is translated as "heart," metaphorically referring to the inner self, including one's will, character, and intentions.

The term “ἄνδρα” (andra) simply means "man." The phrase "which shall fulfil all my will" uses the Greek word “θέλημά” (thelēma), meaning "will" or "desire," pointing to God's plan or purpose.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of an ideal ruler found in Acts 13:22 has parallels in various ancient cultures and religions.

For instance, the "king by divine right" was a prevalent idea in Mesopotamian cultures where the king was often seen as chosen by the gods.

In Egyptian mythology, the Pharaoh was considered a god himself, the intermediary between the gods and the people.

The Hebrew narrative of David's rule contrasts with these conceptions by emphasizing personal integrity and obedience to God's will as the ideal qualifications for a leader, rather than merely divine appointment or hereditary succession.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives might not directly intersect with the thematic content of this verse, as it speaks primarily to historical and theological concepts.

However, the study of human psychology and leadership may provide insights into the qualities that make a “man after God’s own heart” and the effects of such leadership on society.

Furthermore, archeological findings contribute to understanding the historical David, lending evidence to the biblical narrative.

commentaries

Commentaries offer a variety of perspectives on Acts 13:22:

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible highlights God's affection and favor towards David, pointing out that despite his failings, David was truly penitent and sought the glory of God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the contrast between Saul, who was rejected by God, and David, who was a type of Christ in his affection for the worship and ordinances of God.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the importance of character in leaders and reinforces the idea that David, despite his sins, is presented as a model of a ruler who genuinely sought to do God's will.

Each commentary underscores the importance of David's heart attitude towards God and the foreshadowing of the Messiah’s relationship with the Father.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:22 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 13:22 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?