But
God raised him from the dead, and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’ “Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’ For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. But he whom God raised up saw no decay.
Acts 13:30-37
Acts 13 [25.] As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.
Acts 13 [30.] But God raised him from the dead, and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm,
‘You are my Son.
Today I have become your father.’
Acts 13 [34.] “Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’ For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. But he whom God raised up saw no decay. Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins, and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
Acts 13 [41.] ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish;
for I work a work in your days,
a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”
Meaning:
Paul has told the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch how Jesus, the promised Son of David, was condemned, crucified and laid in a tomb (Acts 13:23-29). Now comes the turning point of his sermon: God raised him from the dead. Paul supports this with eyewitnesses and with three passages of Scripture.
- “But God raised him from the dead”
Human judges condemned Jesus; God reversed their verdict. The resurrection is God’s act and God’s declaration about who Jesus is. Paul later wrote that Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).
- “He was seen for many days … who are his witnesses to the people”
The risen Jesus “showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days” (Acts 1:3). The witnesses were the disciples who had followed him from Galilee, to whom he said, “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48). Paul does not count himself among them here, though he saw the risen Lord later (1 Corinthians 15:8).
- “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”
Psalm 2 celebrates the enthronement of God’s anointed king, to whom Yahweh says, “You are my son. Today I have become your father” (Psalm 2:7). Paul applies the words to the resurrection. When God raised Jesus, he publicly installed him as the Son-King promised to David. Hebrews uses the same verse (Hebrews 1:5). The words do not mean that Jesus became God’s Son only at the resurrection; at his baptism the Father had said, “You are my beloved Son” (Mark 1:11). The resurrection revealed and confirmed it with power.
- “I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David”
Paul’s second text comes from Isaiah, where God promises “an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:3). Blessings that are “sure” and everlasting require a King who lives forever. Since Jesus rose “no more to return to corruption,” the blessings promised to David can never fail. As Paul wrote elsewhere, “Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more” (Romans 6:9).
- “You will not allow your Holy One to see decay”
The third text is from Psalm 16:10, which Peter also quoted at Pentecost (Acts 2:29-31). The Greek word behind “holy” links it with the “holy” blessings of Isaiah 55, a way Jewish teachers often connected passages. Paul’s argument is simple. David could not have been speaking of himself, because David “fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay”; Scripture records that “David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city” (1 Kings 2:10). The promise must point to David’s descendant, Jesus, whose body never decayed.
The Significance of Acts 13:30-37
- The resurrection is the heart of the gospel
Paul’s message rests on a historical event with witnesses. Christian hope is not wishful thinking but trust in what God has done in raising Jesus.
- God keeps his promises
Centuries passed between the promises to David and their fulfilment. Believers can trust that every promise of God is “sure” in the risen Christ.
- Serving God in our generation
Like David, each believer has a limited time to serve God’s purpose. Faithfulness in our own generation is our part; the eternal outcome rests with the risen Lord.
Cross-References:
Psalm 2:7: "You are my son. Today I have become your father." The enthronement of God’s King.
Isaiah 55:3: "I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." The lasting blessings of David’s covenant.
Psalm 16:10: "For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption." David’s words fulfilled in Jesus.
Acts 1:3: "To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days," The witnesses of the risen Jesus.
Conclusion: Paul declared that God raised Jesus from the dead, as many eyewitnesses could testify, and so fulfilled his promise to the fathers. He showed from Psalm 2, Isaiah 55 and Psalm 16 that the resurrection installed Jesus as God’s Son and King and secured the everlasting blessings promised to David. David died and saw decay, but the one God raised up never will.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible