Acts 13:35

35 So also the psalmist's prayer: 'You'll never let your Holy One see death's rot and decay.'

Acts 13:35 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 13:35

Wherefore he saith also in another psalm
( Psalms 16:10 ) or "in another place", as the Syriac version supplies; or "in another section", as the Arabic version; or "elsewhere", as Beza's most ancient copy, the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, read:

thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption;
which cannot be understood of David: the term "Holy One", is not so applicable to him, who was a man subject to infirmities; at least not in such sense as to Christ, who was holy in his nature, and without sin in his life and conversation; besides, David was laid in his grave, and saw corruption, as the apostle afterwards proves: the former part of this passage is not cited, "thou wilt not leave my soul in hell"; which was not absolutely necessary to be mentioned, it being clearly implied in what is produced; for if he should not be suffered to see corruption, then he could not be left in the grave: moreover, the apostle cites that which he intended to reason upon, as he afterwards does, and by it makes it manifestly appear that the words do not belong to David, but the Messiah, and are a clear and pertinent proof of his resurrection from the dead. The Jew F16 objects to the apostle's version of these words, rendering (txv) , by "corruption", whereas he says it signifies a "pit"; but it ought to be observed, that the word in its first proper, and literal sense, signifies "corruption"; and a pit or grave is only called by this name, because dead bodies, or carcasses, are therein corrupted; and instances may be given, wherein the word cannot be understood in another sense than in that of corruption, as in ( Leviticus 22:25 ) ( Psalms 55:23 ) . (See Gill on Acts 2:27).


FOOTNOTES:

F16 R. Isaac, Chizzuk Emuna, par. 2. c. 69. p. 456.

Acts 13:35 In-Context

33 has come true for the children - for us! He raised Jesus, exactly as described in the second Psalm: My Son! My very own Son! Today I celebrate you!
34 "When he raised him from the dead, he did it for good - no going back to that rot and decay for him. That's why Isaiah said, 'I'll give to all of you David's guaranteed blessings.'
35 So also the psalmist's prayer: 'You'll never let your Holy One see death's rot and decay.'
36 "David, of course, having completed the work God set out for him, has been in the grave, dust and ashes, a long time now.
37 But the One God raised up - no dust and ashes for him!
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.