Acts 13:21

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.

Acts 13:21 (KJV)

Context

In Paul’s sermon at Pisidian Antioch, he rehearses Israel’s history from Egypt through the judges to the monarchy. The preceding line mentions the judges until Samuel the prophet, and the following line tells how God removed Saul and raised up David. Acts 13:21 sits within that sequence, showing how the desire for a king led to Saul’s appointment.

Meaning

The verse first states that the people desired a king, then records that God gave them Saul, the son of Cis, from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. The name Cis is the Greek form of the Hebrew Kish. Saul’s name means “one that is asked,” reflecting the people’s request. The text does not supply motives or character judgments beyond these details; it simply records what happened.

Biblical connections

The people’s request for a king is recorded in 1 Samuel 8:5, where they asked Samuel to appoint a king to lead them like other nations, which was seen as a rejection of God’s direct leadership. The tribe of Benjamin was the smallest tribe, yet God chose Saul from it, demonstrating His sovereignty in selecting leaders. The forty-year reign is not explicitly stated in the Old Testament; some scholars think it includes Samuel’s time as judge, but the verse affirms God’s providence in history.

Application

A faithful response is careful attention. Readers should receive the record as written, avoid inventing details beyond it, and allow the surrounding history to explain each person’s place. God works through human history, including human failures, to accomplish His redemptive purposes, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Reflection

This verse reminds us that God remains sovereign even when His people make misguided requests. He gave Saul in response to the people’s demand, yet He was already preparing David, from whose line Jesus would come. Trust His timing and His choices, even when they seem surprising.