Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that passage from Acts 13:21. It’s a bit complex, but here's what it means in simple terms: Basically, this verse says that after Jesus had sent out his disciples to spread the good news of the Gospel (the message of love and salvation), they started asking for a leader or king. Here's a breakdown of what’s happening: "And afterward they desired a king..." – This means they were thinking about establishing some kind of rule over the new faith. They weren’t just passively accepting Jesus’ message, they wanted something to govern it with. "...God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years." – This is the key part! God decided that He would choose Saul as their leader. Let's unpack this: Saul: This was a Jewish man who had been a prominent figure in the early church and was known for his boldness and leadership. son of Cis: This means he came from a specific branch of the Cis tribe, which was a significant and important group within the Israelite community. by the space of forty years: This is a really important detail! It means that Saul was appointed as leader for 40 years . That's a long time – almost 40 years – to guide the church. So, what’s the significance? This verse shows that God chose Saul to be their leader, and it took a significant amount of time (40 years) for him to fully understand and embrace the message of Jesus. It emphasizes that God has a plan for things and often chooses people to lead us in ways we don't always anticipate. In essence, it’s about God’s providence – His guiding hand throughout history. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give more context around this passage (like its historical setting)? Discuss the reasons behind God choosing Saul?