Acts 13:17-20

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“The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm brought He them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered He their manners in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided their land to them by lot. And after that He gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.”

This passage presents a mathematical problem. First, take a moment to read I Kings 6:1. How does the 480 years referenced there square with the “about 450 years” in Acts 13:17-20? Which period only goes “until Samuel”? The word “until” (Ac 13:20) should properly be translated “including.” This time marks the period to the end of Samuel’s service. Now examine the math:

480 years (I Kgs. 6:1)

-40 years (Acts 13:18)

440 years, which is “about…450 years” (Ac 13:20)

No suggested reading.