Bible Strands
Acts 13:23
From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul, addressing a synagogue congregation in Antioch of Pisidia, moves from David's kingship to the announcement of Jesus as the promised Savior. This is the pivot of his first recorded missionary sermon (Acts 13:16–41).
The words — σπέρματος (spermatos), "seed," is the genitive of σπέρμα, a biological term for offspring or lineage; it makes the David-to-Jesus link a matter of descent, not merely succession.
The thread — The Davidic seed-promise is stated in Psalms 132:11, traced in Matthew 1:1, and claimed by the risen Christ in Revelation 22:16.
Why it lands — The verse demands that a reader treat "Savior" as a title earned through a specific covenantal chain, not a generic label, and that "as He promised" is a claim that can be audited against prior Scripture.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
Cross-references
- Matthew 1:1 This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
- Psalms 132:11 The LORD swore an oath to David, a promise He will not revoke: “One of your descendants I will place on your throne.
- Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
- Acts 13:32 And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Jude 1:25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
- 2 Samuel 7:12 And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
- Psalms 89:35 Once and for all I have sworn by My holiness—I will not lie to David—
- Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
- Isaiah 11:10 On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.