The Apostle Paul was preaching on the Island of Cyprus, and in his Sermon he revealed a fact that is told nowhere else in the Bible. (Best I can find, anyway.) As he reviews a bit of Jewish history (perhaps patterning his Message after the powerful one Stephen delivered just prior to being stoned to death) this singular bit of information surfaces.

Here are Paul’s pertinent words, mid-speech: “And afterward they (Israel) desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis (Kish), a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.” Acts 13:21

Saul reigned for “forty years!”

Interestingly, King David also was on the throne a total of forty years! (As King of Judah first then all Israel.) My proof Text: “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” 2 Samuel 5:4

And Solomon also reigned that exact amount of time, forty years! “And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.” 1 Kings 11:42

But we would have never known of this matched “trio” of dates (years on the throne) of Israel’s first three Kings … apart from Paul’s powerful Cyprian Sermon!

So Preacher Bagwell, what’s the point?

A Slice of Bible Typology, I think.

“Forty” seems to be the number in Scripture that speaks of “testing.”

Forty days and forty nights of deluge, massive rain during the Flood!

Forty years in the wilderness for hardhearted Israel!

Jesus’ Temptation of forty days!

Dozens of other examples exist!

Trial and testing!

Now, back to Saul. Here is man being “tested” under the Law. And man fails, miserably! Disobedience, rebellion, really “the works of the flesh!” What a sad ending, King Saul’s life.

Then we segue to David, a man being transformed into a person who has “a heart for God!” A lover of the Lord, a worshipper indeed! David tested in light, not of Law, but of the Grace of God! (Much as we today live in the Dispensation of God’s Amazing Grace!)

Then Solomon, a man of peace. (The Lord speaking to David, prior to Solomon’s birth: “Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give PEACE and QUIETNESS unto Israel in his days.” 1 Chronicles 22:9) Man tested in view of the future Millennium! Days when the “Prince of Peace” will victoriously reign here on this earth!

See this …

Saul, the Law!

David, God’s Grace!

Solomon, the coming Millennium!

In each epoch … the “testing” is real.

Obey the Law!

Yield to Grace!

Enjoy the Millennium!

Just an unusual set of thoughts (in my mind anyway) about the heretofore unknown fact that each of those ancient Monarchs reigned 40 years!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I think we may never know (until Heaven) the IMPACT the life of Stephen had on Paul! Remember, Paul was an eyewitness to the stoning of that godly man. Acts 7:58 … “And they (the unbelieving Jews) cast him (Stephen) out of the city, and stoned him (to death): and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”

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