Acts 13:23-25 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

Of this man's seed From that rod out of the stem of Jesse, that branch out of his roots; hath God, according to his promise, (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5-6,) raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus So long foretold in the sacred oracles. When John had first preached, before his coming Greek, προ προσωπου της εισοδου, to introduce his appearance: (so Doddridge:) the baptism of repentance Even that baptism which, in token of their repentance, they were commanded by God to receive. Of John's preaching, see the notes on Matthew 3:1, &c.; Luke 3:7-17. He mentions the preaching of John in this incidental manner as a thing already known to them. And so, doubtless, it was: for it gave so loud an alarm to the whole Jewish nation, as could not but be heard in foreign countries, at least as remote as Pisidia. As John fulfilled his course His work was quickly finished, and, therefore, might well be termed, a course, or race: he said, Who think ye that I am? I am not he I am not the person whom you suppose me to be, that is, the Messiah. See the notes on John 1:20; John 1:27.

Acts 13:23-25

23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.