Acts 13:26–39

26

“Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.

27

For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.

28

Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.

29

When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

30

But God raised him from the dead,

31

and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

32

We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,

33

that God has fulfilled this to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 33. He then shews them that Jesus was their Messias, and the Son of God, begotten of his Father from eternity, who rose from the dead, and he applies these words, (Psalms 2:7) to prove Christ’s resurrection, thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. It is true, these words regard chiefly the eternal generation of Christ, as they are applied by Saint Paul, (Hebrews 5:5) but the resurrection was a necessary consequence of his divinity, since death could have no power over him. Saint Paul here also proves Christ’s resurrection by the following predictions. Witham.—Second psalm. The oldest copy reads, first psalm. The difference is merely in words; for the division of the psalter at present is very different from what it formerly was: sometimes a single psalm of ours being divided into many, and many of our divisions making only one, according to the Hebrews. The latter are not even now agreed among themselves on the same division of the psalms. Calmet.—Some suppose, that what we call the first psalm was originally looked upon as a preface to the psalter; others, that our first and second psalms united in one. Mat. Polus.

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34

“Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 34. I will give you the holy things of David sure. These are the words of the prophet Isaias, 55 verse 3. According to the Septuagint the sense is, I will faithfully fulfil the promises I made to David. Challoner.

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35

Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 35. In another place also he saith, (Psalms 15:10) thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption. That is, Christ’s body to be corrupted in the grave. See the words of Saint Peter, Acts chapter 2:27. Witham.

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36

For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 36. After he had served in his generation. That is, in his life-time, saw corruption, or was corrupted in the grave. Witham.

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37

But he whom God raised up saw no decay.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 37–38. Justified. That your sins being forgiven by the merits of Christ, you may be truly just in the sight of God. Witham.

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38

Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins;

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 37–38. Justified. That your sins being forgiven by the merits of Christ, you may be truly just in the sight of God. Witham.

EXPLANATION

The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

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39

and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 39. The law of Moses was then imperfect. I shew you its completion, by preaching to you Christ, whom it foretold. You would violate the law of Moses by opposing the new law, to which he leads you. Tirinus.

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