Contradictions and Paradoxes in Acts 13:21

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Acts 13:21 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Acts 13:21. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Luke, the people wanted a king, so God gave them Saul from the tribe of Benjamin to be their king for forty years. This shows that sometimes God gives people what they ask for, even if it's not the best thing for them.

Acts 13:21: 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.

Contradiction with 1 Samuel 10:24

This verse mentions Saul being chosen by the people as king, which may not directly contradict but could suggest a different emphasis on the role of divine selection.

1 Samuel 10:24: And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that [there is] none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. [God...: Heb. Let the king live]

Contradiction with Hosea 13:11

States God gave them a king in anger, which contrasts with the perceived approval of asking for a king in Acts 13:21.

Hosea 13:11: I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took [him] away in my wrath.

Contradiction with 1 Samuel 8:7

Indicates that asking for a king was a rejection of God, while Acts 13:21 recounts it as part of Israel's history without such commentary.

1 Samuel 8:7: And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Contradiction with 1 Samuel 12:12

Suggests that the demand for a king was a lack of faith, contrasting with the neutral description in Acts 13:21.

1 Samuel 12:12: And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king.

Paradox #1

Acts 13:21 mentions that the Israelites asked for a king and God gave them Saul. The potential contradiction or conflict here could be seen in the fact that elsewhere in the Bible, God expresses displeasure with the Israelites' request for a king, as it signifies a rejection of God’s direct rule over them. This presents a tension between God granting their request and the idea that it was not aligned with His preferred plan for His people, highlighting issues of free will versus divine intention.

Paradox #2

The contradiction in that Bible verse is related to the duration of Saul's reign as king, which is stated to be 40 years. This duration is not consistent with other historical sources or biblical texts, which sometimes suggest different time frames for his reign.

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