Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 13:20

20 And after that he gave unto them judges, about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

These Judges were persons deputed by God to govern and deliver that People; their Commission was attested usually by some extraordinary thing done by them, and their power (as being mediately from God) was absolute

The computation of years here mentioned, hath been very much controverted: That which hath the greatest probability with it, is, Either first, to have recourse to the 17 Verse, and begin this Aera there, with Gods chusing of their Fathers, and ending it at the time of the decision of the Land by lot, as Verse 19. for from the birth of Isaac, to this distribution of the Land, are reckoned 447 years; which may well be said here, About 450 years: but then the sense is, after that, such things mentioned in the 17, 18, 19. Verses were done; which were in the compass of 450 years, God then gave them Judges. Or, as others do refer these words to what follows, and begin the Aera or computation from the going of the Children of Israel out of Egypt, and ending it at the expulsion of the Iebusites out of Ierusalem, which may make up this account: But then this passage of St. Paul is not intended to shew how long the Judges Ruled, but when it was, or about what time that they Ruled; As also to shew what a long time it took up to gain that People a quiet possession of that promised Inheritance, their sins still keeping good things from them.

Marginal references: Judges 3.9.