A man after mine own heart,— Though we have spoken largely on this head in the proper place (1 Samuel 13:13-14.) yet as the expression has been cavilled at by some, we cannot withhold the following observation of Dr. Benson's: "When it is said, that king David was a man after God's own heart, it ought to be understood of his public, not of his private character: he was a man after God's own heart, because he ruled his people Israel according to the divine will. He did not allow of idolatry; he did not set up for absolute power; he was guided in the government of the nation by the law of Moses as the standing rule of government, and by the prophet, or the divine oracle, whereby God gave directions upon particular emergencies. Whatever Saul's private character was, he was not a good king in Israel. He did not follow the law, the oracle, and the prophet, but attempted to be absolute, and thereby to subvert the constitution of the kingdom. That this was the meaning of David's being a man after God's own heart, will early appear from comparing the last-mentioned passage, 1 Samuel 15:28; 1 Samuel 28:17-18. 1 Chronicles 10:13-14.Psalms 78:70, &c. and Psalms 89:20, &c."
Related Commentaries of Acts 13:22
Acts 13:22
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.