Acts 13:23

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

Of {G575} this man's {G5127} seed {G4690} hath {G1453} God {G2316} according {G2596} to his promise {G1860} raised {G1453} unto Israel {G2474} a Saviour {G4990}, Jesus {G2424}:

“In keeping with his promise, God has brought to Isra’el from this man’s descendants a deliverer, Yeshua.

From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.

Of this man’s seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus;

Context of Acts 13:23

This verse is part of Paul's first recorded sermon, delivered in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia. Paul is tracing the history of Israel from Abraham, through the Exodus, the period of the judges, and the monarchy, leading up to King David. His aim is to demonstrate how God's faithfulness culminated in the sending of Jesus, the promised Messiah. The audience would have been familiar with the Old Testament prophecies and the expectation of a coming deliverer from David's royal line.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Faithfulness to His Promises: The verse powerfully emphasizes God's unwavering commitment to His word. The phrase "according to his promise" highlights that Jesus' coming was not a random event but the direct fulfillment of divine prophecy, particularly the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16) concerning an everlasting kingdom and a descendant who would rule.
  • Jesus as the Promised Messiah: Paul explicitly identifies Jesus as "a Saviour" who was "raised unto Israel" from the "seed" (descendants) of David. This confirms Jesus' identity as the long-awaited Christ, the one prophesied to come from David's lineage to bring salvation (Romans 1:3).
  • Continuity of God's Plan: The verse underscores the seamless connection between God's work in the Old Testament and its climax in the New Testament with Jesus. The history of Israel served as preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

Linguistic Insights

The word "Saviour" comes from the Greek Soter (Σωτήρ), which means deliverer, preserver, or rescuer. In the context of this verse, it signifies Jesus as the one who brings salvation, not just from earthly enemies, but from sin and death, fulfilling the spiritual deliverance anticipated by Israel.

Practical Application and Reflection

Acts 13:23 reminds us of the certainty of God's promises. Just as God faithfully fulfilled His ancient promises regarding the Messiah, so too can we trust in His promises for our lives today. This verse anchors our faith in the historical reality of Jesus, not as a mythical figure, but as the promised deliverer who entered human history through the lineage of David. It encourages us to look to Jesus as the ultimate "Saviour" for all who believe, offering hope and redemption to a world in need (Luke 2:11).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 1:1

    ¶ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

  • Psalms 132:11

    ¶ The LORD hath sworn [in] truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

  • Revelation 22:16

    I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.

  • Acts 13:32

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

  • Jude 1:25

    To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

  • Titus 3:3

    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

  • Titus 3:6

    Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
← Back