Acts 2:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

NIV: "Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.

NASB: Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

CSB: "Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

NLT: Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.

KJV: Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

NKJV: “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.

Peter is explaining that in Psalm 16:10, David is not speaking for himself but for his Lord (Acts 2:25–28). The speaker is sure God will not abandon Him to the land of the dead long enough for His body to decay. Peter points out that this can't be David. David died hundreds of years prior (1 Kings 2:10–11). Peter's audience even knows where his grave is.

David's tomb is in south Jerusalem, near Siloam. Nehemiah knew of it (Nehemiah 3:16). Josephus writes that in the second century BC, Hyrcanus I took three thousand talents from the tomb to pay Antiochus Sidetes to lift his siege of Jerusalem. A hundred years later, when Herod the Great heard what Hyrcanus had done, he opened the sepulcher to help himself to David's riches. Although he took some gold furnishings, he lost two men to a mysterious flame. In atonement, Herod built a monument of white stone at the door of the tomb. It's believed the tomb was destroyed in the Bar Kokhba revolt of AD 135. Some think it was rediscovered 1,000 years ago, and travelers to Jerusalem can visit the place now.

Peter identifies David as a "patriarch." David wasn't a patriarch of the Jewish people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's sons. But he did have a strong hand in establishing Israel as a nation, and he is the patriarch of the line of David of whom Jesus is the culmination and the promise.

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.