And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

ACTS 13:20KJV
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Acts 13:20 (KJV)

What does Acts 13:20 mean?

Acts 13:20 says that, after bringing Israel out of Egypt, God gave them judges to lead them for about 450 years, up until the time of Samuel the prophet. This verse summarizes a long period in Israel’s history when leaders called judges guided the people before Israel had kings.

In Acts 13, the apostle Paul is speaking in a synagogue, telling the story of Israel’s past to show how God worked through their history. Paul is explaining how God cared for Israel by giving them leaders (“judges”) for many generations, leading up to Samuel, who was both a prophet and the last judge before the era of kings began.

The Greek behind Acts 13:20

  • The word for "judges" is κριτάς (kritas), which means leaders who settled disputes and guided the people. This term points to the special role these figures had in Israel’s history, not just as legal authorities but as deliverers and guides.
  • The phrase "about the space of four hundred and fifty years" uses the Greek ὡς (hōs, “about”) and the numbers ἑκατόν (hekaton, “hundred”) and πεντήκοντα (pentēkonta, “fifty”), showing the time span is approximate, not exact.
  • "Until Samuel the prophet" uses the Greek ἕως (heōs, “until”) and προφήτου (prophētou, “prophet”), marking Samuel as a key transition from the time of the judges to the time of the prophets and kings.

Why Acts 13:20 matters

  • Acts 13:20 helps clarify the timeline of Israel’s history, showing a long period between the Exodus and the rise of kings, which can sometimes be confusing when reading the Old Testament.
  • By mentioning the judges and Samuel, Paul connects God’s ongoing guidance of Israel to the coming of Jesus, which is his main point in this speech.
  • The verse emphasizes that God was actively involved in Israel’s leadership, not leaving them without guidance during a long and sometimes chaotic era.

Where else these words appear

“Samuel” Greek G4545 · used in 3 verses

  • Acts 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
  • Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

“hundred” Greek G5071 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
  • Acts 7:6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
  • Galatians 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

“fifty” Greek G4004 · used in 7 verses

  • Mark 6:40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
  • Luke 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
  • John 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

“judges” Greek G2923 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
  • Luke 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
  • 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.