Acts 13:18

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

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

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

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

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

Commentary

Acts 13:18 KJV is part of Paul's powerful sermon in Antioch of Pisidia, where he recounts the history of Israel from the Exodus to the coming of Jesus Christ. This specific verse highlights God's immense patience and enduring faithfulness despite the constant rebellion of the Israelites during their forty-year wilderness journey.

Context

In this sermon, Paul is tracing God's redemptive plan through Israel's history, demonstrating how God chose the people, delivered them from Egyptian bondage, and sustained them through the wilderness. His narrative culminates in the promise of a Savior from David's lineage, Jesus. Acts 13:18 specifically refers to the period after the Exodus, where the nation of Israel, despite witnessing divine miracles and provision, repeatedly complained, rebelled, and tested God's patience. Paul uses this historical account to show God's consistent character and to lay the groundwork for understanding the greater salvation offered through Christ.

Key Themes

  • Divine Forbearance and Patience: The verse powerfully emphasizes God's incredible long-suffering. For four decades, God "suffered their manners"—meaning He patiently endured their grumbling, idolatry, and disbelief. This illustrates a core aspect of God's character: His willingness to bear with His people even when they are unfaithful, providing for them despite their provocations.
  • Israel's Rebellion: Implicit in God's suffering their manners is the reality of Israel's persistent disobedience. The wilderness period was marked by numerous instances of complaint against God and Moses, lack of trust, and even outright rebellion, such as the golden calf incident or the refusal to enter the Promised Land due to fear. This serves as a cautionary tale within Paul's sermon.
  • God's Sustaining Hand: Despite their rebellion, God continued to provide for the Israelites miraculously in the wilderness, giving them manna, water from the rock, and protecting their clothing and feet. This highlights God's steadfast commitment to His covenant promises, even when His people faltered.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "suffered he their manners" is etropophorēsen (ἐτροποφόρησεν). This verb comes from tropos (manner, way of life) and phoreō (to bear, carry, endure). It vividly conveys the idea of God tolerating, enduring, and bearing with the difficult and rebellious behavior of the Israelites. Some ancient manuscripts and interpretations offer an alternative reading from trephō (to nourish, feed), which would suggest "He fed them in the wilderness." However, the KJV's translation, "suffered he their manners," aligns well with the broader biblical narrative of God's patience with His wayward people, as seen in passages like Nehemiah 9:21 and Psalm 95:10.

Practical Application

Acts 13:18 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • God's Enduring Patience: Just as God patiently bore with Israel, He continues to extend His patience and grace to us. This should inspire both gratitude and a desire to respond to His kindness with obedience rather than rebellion.
  • Learning from History: The wilderness generation serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of unbelief, complaining, and spiritual rebellion. We are called to learn from their mistakes and to trust God's leading, even when circumstances are challenging.
  • Trust in God's Provision: Even amidst the Israelites' failures, God never ceased to provide for their needs. This reassures us that God will sustain us through our own "wilderness" experiences, if we but trust in Him.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 7:36 (6 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

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

  • Hebrews 3:16 (3 votes)

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

  • Hebrews 3:19 (3 votes)

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

  • Deuteronomy 9:21 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

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

  • Exodus 16:35 (3 votes)

    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.