Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes that God "gave" them Saul, highlighting that this king, though chosen by the people's demand, was ultimately provided by God in His sovereign plan. This isn't just a historical footnote; it reveals that even when God grants people what they want, it doesn't always align with what's best for them.
Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this part of Acts, Paul is recounting Israel's history to the Jewish community in Antioch of Pisidia, emphasizing God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness. He's just traced their journey from Egypt through the Promised Land, highlighting God's provision of judges like Samuel. Now, he explains how the people foolishly rejected God's leadership by demanding a king like the surrounding nations, leading God to give them Saul, who reigned for a significant period.
Israel wasn't supposed to have a king like other nations. Yet, they asked for one. How did God respond?
The people of Israel, forgetting their unique covenant relationship with God as their King, demanded a human king to rule over them like the surrounding nations. This desire wasn't a surprise to God; it was predicted centuries earlier (Deuteronomy 17:14-15). But their wanting a king was a rejection of God's direct rule. In His sovereign way, God gave them Saul. This wasn't an endorsement of their choice, but a concession to their persistent desire, demonstrating that God allows people to reap the consequences of their choices, even when those choices move away from His will.
Why mention Saul's tribe? And what's with the name 'Cis'?
The text highlights Saul as 'a man of the tribe of Benjamin.' This detail is significant for several reasons. Paul, the author of Acts, was himself a Benjamite (Philippians 3:5), giving him a personal connection to this king. Historically, Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob, and the tribe had a troubled past, even being nearly annihilated early in Israel's history (Judges 19-21). Saul's origin from this tribe might underscore the unexpected nature of God's choices, raising up a leader from a less prominent lineage. Additionally, the name 'Kish' (the Hebrew spelling) is rendered as 'Cis' here. This variation is common in the New Testament's Greek translation of Old Testament names, but it's a reminder that we're reading a translated account of ancient history.
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Forty years? The Old Testament doesn't seem to say that. What's going on?
This verse gives Saul's reign as forty years, a detail not explicitly stated in the Old Testament historical accounts. Scholars have debated this for centuries! Some suggest this figure likely includes the period when Samuel the prophet was still leading Israel before and alongside Saul's early kingship. Others believe it might be a traditional number assigned to significant reigns in that era, or perhaps an approximation that encompasses the entire period of transition and conflict before David's unified rule. Whatever the precise calculation, Paul presents it as a historical fact. It serves to establish the significant length of Saul's tenure, setting the stage for the subsequent, divinely appointed reign of David.
Understand the original words
melek · Hebrew Noun
A human monarch ruling over a nation, or in a biblical sense, one who holds supreme authority under the ultimate sovereignty of God. The request for a human king in Israel often signaled a lack of trust in God's direct rule.
The Apostle Paul references the forty-year period encompassing both Samuel's later ministry and Saul's entire reign, highlighting Israel's transition from God's direct leadership to monarchy.
c. 1100 BC
Israel Consolidates Under Samuel
Following a period of disarray and oppression, the prophet Samuel leads Israel, establishing a form of theocratic rule and justice.
c. 1095 BC
Israel Demands a King
The elders of Israel, desiring to be like surrounding nations, press Samuel to appoint a king, a move seen as rejecting God's direct rule.
c. 1095 BC— this verse
Saul Anointed King
God, though displeased, grants Israel's request and directs Samuel to anoint Saul, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, as their first king.
c. 1052 BC
Saul's Reign Ends
Saul's troubled reign concludes, marked by disobedience and spiritual decline, paving the way for God's anointing of David.
c. 1052 BC - 1012 BC
David's Reign and Covenant
David begins his long and influential reign, establishing a more robust kingdom and a lasting covenant with God.
This passage describes the elders of Israel demanding a king, mirroring the desire mentioned in Acts 13:21, highlighting the people's rejection of God's direct rule.
1 Samuel 10:24Here, Saul, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, is presented to the people as their chosen king, directly preceding the account of his reign and connecting to the specific details given in Acts 13:21.
Deuteronomy 17:14This verse prophesies the people's future desire for a king 'like the other nations,' which finds its historical fulfillment in the events of Acts 13:21 and the subsequent history of Israel's monarchy.
Philippians 3:5The Apostle Paul, who himself was of the tribe of Benjamin and bore the same name as the first king (Saul), reflects on his own heritage, making the mention of Saul particularly poignant for him.
ellicottActs 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."
(21) 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-king of the tribe to which he himself belonged. (Comp. Philippians 3:5 .) The very fact that he had so recently renounced the name, would bring the associations connected with it more vividly to his recollectio…
barnesActs 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."
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 Testamen…
The text emphasizes that God "gave" them Saul, highlighting that this king, though chosen by the people's demand, was ultimately provided by God in His sovereign plan. This isn't just a historical footnote; it reveals that even when God grants people what they want, it doesn't always align with what's best for them.
In this part of Acts, Paul is recounting Israel's history to the Jewish community in Antioch of Pisidia, emphasizing God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness. He's just traced their journey from Egypt through the Promised Land, highlighting God's provision of judges like Samuel. Now, he explains how the people foolishly rejected God's leadership by demanding a king like the surrounding nations, leading God to give them Saul, who reigned for a significant period.
In this part of Acts, Paul is recounting Israel's history to the Jewish community in Antioch of Pisidia, emphasizing God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness. He's just traced their journey from Egypt through the Promised Land, highlighting God's provision of judges like Samuel. Now, he explains how the people foolishly rejected God's leadership by demanding a king like the surrounding nations, leading God to give them Saul, who reigned for a significant period.
"Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years." — The text emphasizes that God "gave" them Saul, highlighting that this king, though chosen by the people's demand, was ultimately provided by God in His sovereign plan. This isn't just a historical fo…
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Last reviewed October 2026