Acts 13:18

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.

American Standard Version (1901)

And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness.

Bible in Basic English

And for about forty years he put up with their ways in the waste land.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And for the space of forty years endured their manners in the desert.

Free Bible Version

and he patiently dealt with them in the desert for about forty years.

Geneva Bible 1599

And about the time of fourtie yeeres, suffered he their maners in the wildernesse.

King James (Authorized) Version

And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

Plain English Version

Then they were in the desert country for 40 years. Sometimes they didn’t listen to God, but he looked after them anyway.

Translation for Translators

Even though they repeatedly disobeyed him, he cared for them for about 40 years while they were in the desert.

Unlocked Literal Bible

For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

Noah Webster Bible

And about the time of forty years he suffered their manners in the wilderness.

World English Bible

For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

Young's Literal Translation

and about a period of forty years He did suffer their manners in the wilderness,

Context

In Pisidian Antioch

¹⁷The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.¹⁸He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.¹⁹And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.

Summary

This verse recounts God's guidance and provision for the Israelites during their time in the wilderness. Despite their disobedience and unfaithfulness, God continued to care for them, leading them for about forty years. The passage serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and patience towards His people, even in the midst of their shortcomings. It underscores the importance of trusting in God's guidance and provision, knowing that He remains steadfast in His love and care for His children.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

About the time of forty years - The space of time between their coming out of Egypt, and going into the promised land. Suffered he their manners - Ετροποφορησεν αυτους; He dealt indulgently with them: howsoever they behaved towards him, he mercifully bore with, and kindly treated them. But instead of ετροποφορησεν, ACE, some others, with the Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, and some of the fathers, read ετροφοφορησεν, which signifies, he nourished and fed them, or bore them about in his arms as a tender nurse does her child. This reading confirms the marginal conjecture, and agrees excellently with the scope of the place, and is a reading at least of equal value with that in the commonly received text. Griesbach has admitted it, and excluded the other. Both, when rightly understood, speak nearly the same sense; but the latter is the most expressive, and agrees best with Paul's discourse, and the history to which he alludes. See the same form of expression, Num 11:12; Exo 19:4; Isa 46:3, Isa 46:4; Isa 63:9.