Acts 13:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.

NIV: But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

NASB: but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.

CSB: but the one God raised up did not decay.

NLT: No, it was a reference to someone else — someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

KJV: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

NKJV: but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.

Paul is speaking to a synagogue of Jews, along with Gentiles who fear God, near the center of modern-day Asia Minor. He finishes his argument that Jesus of Nazareth is the Savior God promised would come from the line of David and that His death and resurrection were prophesied in Jewish Scripture—particularly by David. Like Peter (Acts 2:27–31), Paul uses David's words in Psalm 16:10: "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption."

This promise can't apply to David because he died, was buried in a tomb in Jerusalem that could be visited at that time, and never left that tomb. Conversely, three days after the Jewish ruling council orchestrated the crucifixion of Jesus and two friends buried Him, God raised Him from the dead. His resurrection was witnessed by His disciples, including five hundred men at one time (Luke 24:13–35; John 20:11–29; 1 Corinthians 15:6; see Acts 13:30–31). His body was not only not corrupted, but it was also restored to the point that some of His disciples struggled to immediately recognize Him (John 20:15).

So far, Paul has had the relatively easy task of reviewing God's saving work in Israel's history and promise of an ultimate Savior (Acts 13:16–25) and convincing his audience that Jesus of Nazareth is that Savior (Acts 13:26–37). Now, he sets out to properly define "salvation." To this point, it has included rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, giving them a homeland, and defeating their enemies. God's promise that His Savior will sit on David's throne and bring peace and prosperity to an independent Israel is yet to come. First, however, God offers a different kind of salvation: forgiveness from sins and freedom from the Mosaic law (Acts 13:38–39).

Acts 13:16–41 gives the transcript of Paul's message in Pisidian Antioch. It is the only recording of Paul's many synagogue sermons. Paul's message can be broken into five parts, each identified with a call to heed Paul's words: 1. God's saving work in Israel's history and promise of a future Savior (Acts 13:16–25); 2. The Savior's story (Acts 13:26–31); 3. The prophecies of the Savior (Acts 13:32–37); 4. The nature of ''salvation'' (Acts 13:38–39); 5. A warning to accept the Savior (Acts 13:40–41). Some Jews and many Gentiles do accept the message, but the synagogue leaders drive Paul and Barnabas out of town (Acts 13:42–51).

Acts 13 transitions Luke's account (Acts 1:1) fully into a record of Paul's ministry to spread the news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit calls Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary journey. They teach about Jesus' offer of forgiveness of sins on the island of Cyprus and in the district of Pisidia in modern-day south-central Asia Minor. Along the way, they face opposition, desertion, and persecution: themes that will follow Paul throughout his life. But they also experience the joy of watching the people they'd least expect come to a saving faith in Jesus.

The first chapters of Acts, save for a quick account of Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1–31), cover the ministry of the apostles, particularly Peter. Those passages also detail the spread of the news about Jesus from His followers. That message goes to the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 2—7) and Judea (Acts 8:26–40; 9:32–43), the Samaritans (Acts 8:4–25), and God-fearing Gentiles (Acts 10—11). Now, Paul's contribution to the ''end of the earth'' portion of Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8 begins, as he and Barnabas start their first missionary journey. Luke will record two more of Paul's journeys (Acts 15:36—18:22 and 18:23—20:38) before settling in on his return to Jerusalem, arrest, and sea voyage to Rome (Acts 21—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.