Acts 7:46

46 who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob.

Acts 7:46 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 7:46

Who found favour before God
That is, David, who had an interest in the free favour and love of God, was chosen of God, a man after his own heart, and raised up to do his will; and who had the grace of God implanted in him, and was acceptable, and well pleasing to God through Christ; the same is said of Noah, ( Genesis 6:8 )

and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob;
from whom the Israelites descended: David having a deep sense of the love of God to him, and the grace of God wrought in his heart, was exceeding desirous of finding a place for the building of an house, or fixed habitation for God; for there was a tabernacle already, which had been from the time of Moses, and which the children of Israel brought with them into Canaan, and was moved from place to place; sometimes it was at Gilgal, sometimes at Shiloh, and then it was at Nob, and Gibeah, and at length it was brought by David into his own city; but he wanted to build a settled and stable house for the Lord, of which there was a hint given that the Lord would choose a place to put his name in, ( Deuteronomy 16:2 ) but it seems, where that was to be was not known; and therefore David very anxiously sought after it; the reference is had to ( Psalms 132:3-5 ) where David determines not to go to his house, nor up to his bed, nor give sleep, to his eyes, nor slumber to his eyelids, till he had found out a place for the habitation of the God of Jacob.

Acts 7:46 In-Context

44 "Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.
45 Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David,
46 who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob.
47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him.
48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says,

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Other ancient authorities read [for the God of Jacob]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.