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What David Foretold Could Not Apply To Himself (Acts 2:29-36)

'My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. 30 But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. 33 Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you [both] see and hear. 34 For David did not go up into heaven, but he himself said: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” 36 Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified (Acts 2:29-36).”'

Peter continued his speech and argued that the prophesy could not apply to David because God spoke of his death, he died and was buried, and they know where his tomb is.  The Jews regarded Davis as a prophet and God had made a covenant with him, “When your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom (2 Sam. 7:12).”  Therefore, David must have been prophesying about the resurrection of his descendant the Messiah that was to come (Ps. 16:10).  Peter claimed that the apostles were witnesses to the resurrection and Jesus now sits at God’s right hand (Ps. 110:1).  The resurrected Jesus received the Holy Spirit from God the Father and had “poured it forth (v. 33)” as they saw and heard.  God has made the risen Christ both “Lord and Messiah (v. 36).”

Almighty God, the prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah, but none was raised up to sit at your right hand and lead us to your kingdom.  In your mercy let your Son pour forth your Holy Spirit upon us so that we may share in the joy of your kingdom even while we struggle in this foreign land.  This we pray through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References

Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.

Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.

Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

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