Acts 2:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.

NIV: Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,

NASB: THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE WAS OVERJOYED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;

CSB: Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,

NLT: No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope.

KJV: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

NKJV: Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

Peter is quoting David (Psalm 16:8–11) to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah that God promised the Jews. Peter identifies the passage as David talking to God about Jesus (Acts 2:25). David identified his "Lord"—the person he, himself, submitted to—as the one who would be raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27).

Acts 2:25–28 is in the form of a chiasm. In this poetic form, ideas are mirrored around a central theme. This verse continues the idea found in Acts 2:25 which speaks of the security and joy found when we keep God before us. That thought is mirrored in Acts 2:28. Here, Peter speaks about having hope for eternity, as does Acts 2:28. Acts 2:27 shows that the reason we can have hope for eternity and why we can be sure our Lord will always be present is because of Jesus' resurrection.

David was an emotional, expressive man. Praises flowed out of him easily. When he thought of the strength and authority of his Lord and how his Lord was always with him and for him, his heart became happy, or merry. He couldn't help but to verbally express his delight. In Psalm 16:9, his "whole being rejoices." This brings to mind the day David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem: "And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod" (2 Samuel 6:14). David was so happy he danced in the streets.

In Psalm 16, quoted here in Acts 2:26, David went on to say that his physical body would live in an expectation that good would happen. David's psalms are often about literal circumstances, real physical pain, and the fear of death. Psalm 16 has a more eternal feel. He compared himself, who was content with what God gave him (Psalm 16:5–6), with those who ran after idols (Psalm 16:4). It would be natural to think that David felt his "flesh" was secure because God had rescued and protected him so many times. But here, his assurance of life wasn't based on past rescues but on the belief that God would give life and victory his Lord. That suggests David spoke of an eternal meaning of "life" in Psalm 16:11 (Acts 2:30–31).

Acts 2:14–36 transcribes the first sermon ever given by a Christian. The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised (John 14:16–17) has come upon 120 of His followers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15; 2:1–4). They immediately start speaking in different languages, shocking a crowd of Jews and proselytes who are in town to celebrate Pentecost (Acts 2:5–11). Some of the crowd dismiss the speech as nonsense; others are very interested (Acts 2:12–13). Peter, combining his natural enthusiasm as spokesman for the group with wisdom from the Spirit, responds by obeying Jesus and being His witness (Acts 1:8).

Acts 2 describes the beginning of the church in three episodes. First, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Jesus-followers in Jerusalem, equipping them with the ability to teach the gospel in different languages (Acts 2:1–13). Second, Peter gives a public declaration using Old Testament prophecy to show Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah (Acts 2:14–36). Third, people believe. They repent, trust Jesus will forgive their sins, and agree to be baptized as a public sign that they are now Jesus-followers (Acts 2:37–47). That quickly, the church is born.

Acts 2 describes the creation of Jesus' church. Forty days after Jesus' resurrection He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). One hundred and twenty disciples obeyed His command to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 2–15). In Acts 2, they receive the Holy Spirit and share the gospel with a crowd of people who have come to celebrate Pentecost. Three thousand believe, and the church comes to life. In the following chapters, Jesus-followers fulfill Jesus' promise that they will be His witnesses ''in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'' (Acts 1:8).

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.