Acts 13:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

For some forty years he took care of them in the desert,

Berean Standard Bible:

He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.

American Standard Version:

And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And{G2532} about{G5613} the time{G5550} of forty years{G5063} suffered he{G5159} their{G846} manners{G5159} in{G1722} the wilderness{G2048}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Acts 7:36

  • He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

Exodus 16:2

  • And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

Hebrews 3:16

  • For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Hebrews 3:19

  • So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Deuteronomy 9:21

  • And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, [and] ground [it] very small, [even] until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.

Deuteronomy 9:24

  • Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.

Exodus 16:35

  • And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

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Commentary for Acts 13:18

Acts 13:18 is part of the Apostle Paul's speech in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia during his first missionary journey. In this verse, Paul is recounting the history of the Israelites to the Jewish audience, emphasizing God's involvement in their story. The specific reference to "about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness" alludes to the period when the Israelites wandered in the desert after their exodus from Egypt. This time span is symbolic of a generation passing, as the original group who left Egypt, except for Joshua and Caleb, did not enter the Promised Land due to their lack of faith and disobedience.

The theme here is God's patience and forbearance with His people despite their rebellious nature and failures to live up to His covenant. The historical context is crucial: Paul is drawing a parallel between the wilderness generation and his contemporary Jewish audience, warning them not to repeat the mistakes of their ancestors. He is also setting the stage for the announcement of Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel, highlighting the need for faith in Jesus to be part of the new covenant people of God.

In essence, Acts 13:18 encapsulates the themes of divine patience, the consequences of disobedience, and the importance of faith in God's salvific plan, which Paul presents as culminating in Jesus Christ. This verse serves as a bridge connecting the Old Testament narrative with the New Testament message of the Gospel, inviting the listeners to understand their history in light of the revelation of Jesus as the Messiah.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: G2532
    There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καί
    Transliteration: kaí
    Pronunciation: kahee
    Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
  2. Strong's Number: G5613
    There are 433 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὡς
    Transliteration: hōs
    Pronunciation: hoce
    Description: probably adverb of comparative from ὅς; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.
  3. Strong's Number: G5550
    There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: χρόνος
    Transliteration: chrónos
    Pronunciation: khron'-os
    Description: of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from καιρός, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from αἰών, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay:--+ years old, season, space, (X often-)time(-s), (a) while.
  4. Strong's Number: G5063
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τεσσαρακονταετής
    Transliteration: tessarakontaetḗs
    Pronunciation: tes-sar-ak-on-tah-et-ace'
    Description: from τεσσαράκοντα and ἔτος; of forty years of age:--(+ full, of) forty years (old).
  5. Strong's Number: G5159
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τροποφορέω
    Transliteration: tropophoréō
    Pronunciation: trop-of-or-eh'-o
    Description: from τρόπος and φορέω; to endure one's habits:--suffer the manners.
  6. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
  7. Strong's Number: G1722
    There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐν
    Transliteration: en
    Pronunciation: en
    Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
  8. Strong's Number: G2048
    There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἔρημος
    Transliteration: érēmos
    Pronunciation: er'-ay-mos
    Description: of uncertain affinity; lonesome, i.e. (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, χώρα being implied):--desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness.