The Book of Acts
Chapter 2:29-36
Verse 29 Acts 2:29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.” NKJV
David’s tomb was inside the city of Jerusalem and was in existence in the 1st Century. David’s reference in Psalm 16 was not to himself; so it must have been a reference to the Messiah.
Verses 30-31 Acts 2:30-31 “Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.” NKJV
Peter then identified David as a prophet because he had prophesied through this psalm of the Messiah. The oath was a reference to the covenant God had made with David that his descendant would one day sit on his throne. (II Samuel 7:12-13) “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” See also Psalm 132:11. “The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body.” NKJV (Psalm 89:3-4, 28-29, 35-37) The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that her son, Jesus, would be the one who would sit on David’s throne. (Luke 1:31-33) “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” NKJV But when He appeared before Pilate, He emphasized that He would sit on a spiritual throne, not an earthly one. (John 18:36) “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not form here.” NKJV Peter also declared that David spoke of the resurrection on the Christ – not a Christ. He was the Anointed One, the Messiah. This was the Messiah the Jews had been anxiously waiting for. So Peter established that David had prophesied that the Christ would not remain in the grave.
Verse 32 Acts 2:32 “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” NKJV
Peter emphatically affirmed that “this Jesus God has raised up.” He further stated that he and the other eleven apostles were all eye witnesses. So Peter made it clear that David’s prophecy was speaking of Jesus of Nazareth and Peter and the others had witnessed this predicted resurrection of the Christ. Recall Acts 1:8. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” NKJV (Acts 1:21-22) “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” (Acts 10:40-41) “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.” NKJV
Verse 33 Acts 2:33 “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” NKJV
The next proof Peter brought forth for Jesus’ resurrection was this demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit that they were seeing and hearing this same Jesus had been exalted to the highest place of honor in heaven. (Acts 5:30-31) “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” NKJV (Ephesians 1:20-21) “which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” NKJV This is why Jesus had the power to pour out the Holy Spirit.
Verses 34-35 Acts 2:34-35 “For David did not ascent into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” NKJV
Peter cites David as the authority for seeing Jesus seated at God’s right hand. (Psalm 110:1) “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” NKJV Jesus had quoted these same verses in addressing His enemies. (Matthew 22:41-45) Since David was not speaking of His own ascension, he was speaking of the ascension of the Christ. A point to remember is that Jesus’ reign is in heaven, not on the earth. (Revelation 3:21) “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” NKJV
David’s throne is God’s throne. The term “throne of David” is never used again in the New Testament. Jesus is already reigning and will until death is abolished. (I Corinthians 15:25-26) “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” NKJV
Verse 36 Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” NKJV
Peter reached the climax of his message; God had made this Jesus, the One from Nazareth the one you crucified, both Lord and Christ. The Jews were guilty of killing the very Son of God.
Bobby Stafford
March 29, 2015 [Sunday Evening] Acts Lesson 8: Acts 2:29-36
No comments:
Post a Comment