Acts 13:22When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
The setting
Same synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia. Paul contrasts Saul's failure with David's heart-condition. The audience knows both stories intimately.
The emotion here: amazed at God's heart-vision over human appearances
The original word
kata tēn kardian (κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν) — according to the heart, matching God's own desires and character
Why it matters
David was still a teenager tending sheep when God chose him over his warrior brothers
Read with care
What most readers miss in Acts 13:22
God's testimony about David came BEFORE David's great victories - it was about potential, not performance
Common misconceptionPeople think 'man after God's heart' means David was sinless. Actually, it means when David sinned, he genuinely repented and returned to God's ways.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Acts 13:22
Bible Genome reading
Acts 13:22 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Acts 13:22 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the letter genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine selection, obedience. Notable phrases: man after my heart; will do all my will.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Acts 13:22 mean to you, today?
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