Acts 13:21 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

By the space of forty years.— Several very considerable critics are of opinion, that the forty years here spoken of, do not all belong to the actual reign of Saul, but include a considerable part of Samuel's government. Biscoe, who is followed by Bedford, in his Chronology, seems to have proved very satisfactorily, that the reign of Saul continued all these fortyyears. He is far from thinking that Saul's reign is to be reckoned only from Samuel's death; the contrary is most apparent; and he has abundantly proved, that the actions assigned to him must have taken up many years. But of the forty in question, it may well suffice to allow twenty to him from his anointing, and the former twenty (computed from the grand action at Mispeh) to Samuel, who might at that time be past his prime, and so be inclined to associate his sons with him; till, on their miscarriages, the people took occasion to demand a king; who, at first, we are sure, from the history, lived privately, and whose authority was never so great as to swallow up that of so illustrious a prophet and judge. It was a common opinion prevailing among the Jews, that Saul survived Samuel but little more than two years.