Acts 2:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

NIV: But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

NASB: But God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

CSB: God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.

NLT: But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

KJV: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

NKJV: whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

This is one a significant truth in the story of salvation and a pivotal aspect of the nature of Jesus. "Not possible" is from the Greek root word ou which is a simple negative. Jesus remaining dead was not to be; it could not happen. And so God raised Him. God was the appeals judge, overriding the conviction and punishment of the human courts. Jesus was wrongly accused (Mark 14:55–59), wrongly convicted (John 19:12–16), and wrongly executed (Matthew 27:54). Because He is perfectly sinless, it was not possible that He would stay dead.

This statement in this time and place is also one of the strongest answers to the claim that the disciples faked the resurrection. Peter is preaching in Jerusalem about fifty days after Jesus' resurrection. Paul later says that Jesus "appeared to Cephas [Peter], then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles" (1 Corinthians 15:5–7). Even the Sanhedrin and the guards know there is no body (Matthew 28:11–15). No one in Jerusalem has evidence to contradict the apostles' claim that Jesus has risen—though some attempt to spread rumors anyway (Matthew 28:11–15).

Now, Peter turns to David to show that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of the Jews and that King David prophesied His resurrection hundreds of years prior. It's significant that an executed man came back to life; it's stunning that the Messiah was in their midst and they missed it.

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.