Acts 13 22

Acts 13:22 kjv

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

Acts 13:22 nkjv

And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'

Acts 13:22 niv

After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'

Acts 13:22 esv

And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'

Acts 13:22 nlt

But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 22 Meaning

This verse is part of Paul's sermon in Pisidian Antioch, tracing Israel's history to present Jesus as the Messiah. It highlights God's sovereign intervention in replacing King Saul with David. God, through a divine testimony, affirmed David as a "man after His own heart" who would completely fulfill God's will. This declaration establishes David's obedient disposition and God's clear purpose for him, which ultimately points to the greater fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Son of David.

Acts 13 22 Context

Acts 13:22 is embedded in Paul's powerful sermon in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch. Having established God's historical guidance of Israel, from the Exodus through the judges, Paul then focuses on the kingship. He recounts how Israel desired a king, and God gave them Saul. Crucially, Paul highlights God's subsequent removal of Saul due to disobedience (1 Sam 15:23). This rejection sets the stage for David, portraying his ascent as a direct, righteous intervention of God. Paul is systematically building a case from Old Testament history to prove Jesus of Nazareth as the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant and the promised Messiah. The broader historical context is post-exilic Judaism, where Messianic expectations were fervent, primarily anticipating a political deliverer from David's lineage. Paul's message redirects this expectation towards the spiritual deliverance and ultimate reign of Jesus.

Acts 13 22 Word analysis

• And when he had removed him (ἀποστήσας αὐτόν, apostēsas auton):
  • Removed: Signifies God's direct, sovereign action. It refers to Saul's rejection and the stripping away of his kingdom (1 Sam 15:23, 28). This emphasizes divine initiative in appointing and dethroning leaders, not human preference.
  • This sets up a contrast with the subsequent divine appointment of David.
• he raised up (ἤγειρεν, ēgeiren):
  • Raised up: Literally "awakened" or "raised." In this context, it means God appointed David to be king. The verb is notable as it is frequently used in Acts for Christ's resurrection, creating an implicit connection: just as God sovereignly appointed David, He sovereignly raised Jesus.
  • Signifies divine elevation and empowerment, contrasting human desire for Saul (1 Sam 8:5-7).
• unto them David to be their king:
  • Unto them: God provided a king suited for His purposes for His people.
  • David: The pivotal figure in Israel's history, whose lineage is crucial for the Messiah.
• to whom also he gave testimony (μαρτυρήσας, martyrēsas):
  • Gave testimony: God Himself bore witness to David. This divine commendation underscores David's unique standing before God. It highlights that David's kingship was not merely a political development but a direct result of God's revealed will and approval.
• and said (εἶπεν, eupen):
  • Said: God's direct utterance, a declaration of His mind regarding David.
• I have found David (Εὗρον Δαυΐδ, Heuron Dauïd):
  • Found: Emphasizes God's active searching and discovering David, confirming David was God's choice from the beginning, not an afterthought. It shows divine selection rather than human seeking.
• the son of Jesse:
  • Identifies David's humble origins (1 Sam 16:11-12), contrasting with the more imposing Saul. God chooses based on the heart, not outward appearance. This highlights God's counter-cultural wisdom.
• a man after mine own heart (ἄνδρα κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου, andra kata tēn kardian mou):
  • This is a near-direct quotation from 1 Sam 13:14 (Septuagint).
  • After mine own heart: Does not imply David was perfect, but that his fundamental disposition, desire, and life's orientation were aligned with God's will and purposes. He pursued God and was submissive to divine instruction, repenting genuinely when confronted with sin (e.g., Ps 51).
  • This sets him apart from Saul, who acted presumptuously and disobediently from the heart (1 Sam 13, 15).
• which shall fulfil all my will (ποιήσει πάντα τὰ θελήματά μου, poiēsei panta ta thelēmatá mou):
  • Shall fulfil all my will: This clarifies the essence of being "a man after God's own heart." It is about complete obedience and serving God's overarching plan and purposes. David, through his life and reign, faithfully executed God's specific plans for Israel (2 Sam 7) and became the foundation for the Messiah's lineage and kingdom.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king": This sequence encapsulates God's sovereignty over earthly rule. He initiates change by removing one king (Saul, due to disobedience) and raising up another (David, according to His choice and purpose). This divine succession plan lays the groundwork for the ultimate Davidic King, Jesus.
• "to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David...a man after mine own heart": This section emphasizes the divine endorsement of David. God did not merely allow David to become king; He personally identified him, declared His unique affection and approval, and affirmed his internal disposition as aligned with divine priorities. This testimony elevates David's legitimacy beyond human acclamation.
• "which shall fulfil all my will": This phrase encapsulates David's destiny and purpose from God's perspective. It highlights that David's life was intricately woven into God's broader redemptive plan, establishing a righteous monarchy and the lineage from which the Messiah would come. David’s purpose was directly tied to the establishment of God's kingdom on earth through him and his offspring.

Acts 13 22 Bonus section

The concept of "a man after God's own heart" resonates throughout the scriptures, emphasizing qualities of humility, repentance, a longing for God's presence (Ps 27:8), and unwavering trust (Ps 23). David's character, though flawed, showcased these traits in crucial moments, distinguishing him from Saul. His immediate repentance (2 Sam 12:13) stands in stark contrast to Saul's persistent disobedience. This divine choice of David underscores God's preference for a king whose spirit genuinely reflects His own righteous governance, even if external perfection is absent. This selection served as a prefiguration, a prototype, of the ultimate King who would truly perfectly align with God's will: Jesus Christ. Thus, David's imperfect fulfillment pointed to the perfect fulfillment in the Messiah, setting a precedent for leadership that prioritized God's will above all else.

Acts 13 22 Commentary

Acts 13:22 is a foundational statement in Paul's missionary preaching, skillfully connecting Old Testament history to the New Testament reality of Jesus. Paul is recounting the divine drama of God's interaction with Israel's kings, specifically highlighting the pivotal transition from Saul to David. God's "removal" of Saul signifies His ultimate authority and justice against human disobedience, setting the stage for David's divinely ordained ascent. The concept of David being "a man after My own heart" is crucial. It does not speak of moral perfection (David certainly failed), but of a deep inner orientation, a submissive spirit that longed to please God and perform His will. David, unlike Saul, displayed a consistent desire to seek God’s face, accept divine rebuke, and pursue God's glory over personal gain or human applause. This divine commendation underscores David's unique place as God's chosen vessel through whom the promises of a perpetual dynasty and, ultimately, the Messiah would flow. This verse subtly points forward to Jesus as the true "man after God's own heart" who perfectly fulfilled all God's will, establishing an eternal, spiritual kingdom that David’s earthly kingdom only foreshadowed. It provides a theological bridge between the Law, the Prophets, and the coming of Christ.