Acts 13 29

Acts 13:29 kjv

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

Acts 13:29 nkjv

Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

Acts 13:29 niv

When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.

Acts 13:29 esv

And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

Acts 13:29 nlt

"When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb.

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 29 Meaning

Acts 13:29 summarizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the suffering, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. After those responsible for His crucifixion unknowingly executed God's predetermined plan by "carrying out all that was written about him," they proceeded to take His body down from the "tree" (the cross) and laid Him in a tomb. This confirms the reality of His physical death and burial, which are essential prerequisites for His subsequent resurrection, forming a crucial foundation for Paul's gospel message.

Acts 13 29 Context

This verse is situated within Paul's significant sermon in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, which marks his first recorded extensive missionary address. Paul's discourse begins with a survey of Israel's history, God's covenant with David, and the promised Messiah's lineage (Acts 13:16-23). He then directly introduces Jesus as the fulfillment of these promises, preceded by John the Baptist (Acts 13:24-25). Verses 27-28 describe how the Jewish leaders and inhabitants of Jerusalem, despite their ignorance, ironically fulfilled ancient prophecies by condemning Jesus. Verse 29, therefore, depicts the very next stage of this divine plan: the public removal of Jesus' body from the cross and His burial, actions performed primarily by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. This sets the stage for the dramatic and conclusive point of Paul's gospel proclamation in the following verse—the resurrection of Christ—which relies entirely on the reality of His death and burial presented here.

Acts 13 29 Word analysis

• When they had carried out (Gr. etelesan - ἐτέλεσαν): From the verb teleō, meaning to complete, perform, finish, or execute. In this context, it indicates the full execution of the predetermined plan. It subtly suggests that even the actions of Christ's adversaries served, albeit unknowingly, to fulfill God's divine purpose for the Messiah.
• all that was written about him (Gr. panta ta peri autou gegrammena - πάντα τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ γεγραμμένα): Panta means "all," and gegrammena (perfect passive participle of graphō) signifies "the things having been written." This phrase powerfully emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, especially those related to His suffering, death, and even the circumstances surrounding it. It affirms that Christ's passion was not an unforeseen tragedy but the precise outworking of God's redemptive plan as foretold in Scripture (e.g., Isa 53, Ps 22).
• they took him down (Gr. kathelontes - καθελόντες): A participle of kathaireō, meaning to take down, pull down, or demolish. This refers to the act of removing Jesus' deceased body from the cross. This act would have been carried out swiftly due to Jewish law prohibiting bodies from remaining on a gibbet overnight, especially before the Sabbath (Deut 21:23).
• from the tree (Gr. apo tou xylou - ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου): Xylon literally means "wood" or "tree." This specific term for the cross is notably used in Acts (e.g., Act 5:30, 10:39) and Galatians (Gal 3:13). Its use evokes the Old Testament curse for those "hanged on a tree" (Deut 21:23), highlighting the theological implication that Jesus became a curse on our behalf.
• and laid him (Gr. etēkan - ἔθηκαν): From the verb tithēmi, meaning to put, place, or lay. This describes the final act of depositing Jesus' body in the sepulcher.
• in a tomb (Gr. eis mnēmeion - εις μνημεῖον): A monument, memorial, or sepulcher. Ancient tombs, particularly in Judea, were often caves or rock-cut chambers, and their use for Jesus' burial, specifically a new tomb belonging to a wealthy man (Mat 27:60), further substantiates the fulfillment of prophecy (Isa 53:9) and the reality of His death.

Words-group analysis

• "When they had carried out all that was written about him": This phrase functions as a profound theological statement, asserting God's ultimate control and foresight over the entire sequence of events leading to Jesus' death. It illustrates how the human perpetrators, despite their intentions, inadvertently served as instruments for the fulfillment of divine prophecy. This underscores the deliberate and pre-ordained nature of Christ's passion, transforming seemingly chaotic human malice into components of God's perfect plan of salvation (Act 2:23; 4:27-28).
• "took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb": These actions describe the solemn aftermath of the crucifixion. "Taking him down from the tree" (the cursed instrument) confirms His physical death and the completion of His suffering in that specific manner. "Laying him in a tomb" underscores the absolute reality of His demise, serving as irrefutable evidence that His resurrection (the central point of Paul's coming declaration) was a genuine triumph over actual death and not a resuscitation or revival from unconsciousness. The burial marks the conclusion of one phase of God's plan and prepares the stage for the next—the victory over the grave.

Acts 13 29 Bonus section

• The detail of Joseph of Arimathea being a "prominent member of the Council" (Mar 15:43) and "secret disciple" (Jhn 19:38) alongside Nicodemus, both Pharisees, performing the burial rites (Jhn 19:39-40), demonstrates that not all Jewish leaders participated in or condoned the crucifixion. Their actions of reverently burying Jesus' body also directly fulfilled the prophecy of Isa 53:9, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death."
• The meticulous accounting of Jesus' burial, consistent across all four Gospels and emphasized by Paul, served to combat any potential arguments against the reality of His death. The clear establishment of death and burial was paramount to demonstrating that His subsequent appearance was a genuine resurrection, not a reanimation or misidentification.
• The specific choice of the term "tree" (ξύλον - xylon) over "cross" (σταυρός - stauros) in Acts and other Pauline writings like Galatians highlights the deep theological connection to Deuteronomy 21:23. It emphasizes that Christ did not just die, but He died under a specific curse, becoming that curse for humanity, thus providing profound liberation from the Law's demands and its condemning power. This reflects the early apostolic understanding of Christ's atonement.

Acts 13 29 Commentary

Acts 13:29 concisely captures a critical moment in salvation history within Paul's sermon. It speaks to the meticulously pre-ordained nature of Jesus' death, where every detail, including the manner of His execution ("from the tree") and His final disposition ("in a tomb"), was the fulfillment of prophetic Scripture. The verse attributes the "carrying out" of these prophecies to those who instigated Jesus' death, emphasizing God's perfect sovereignty. Even their wicked intent unknowingly aligned with God's ultimate plan, bringing His foretold word to pass. The twin actions of being taken down and laid in a tomb affirm the undeniable reality of Christ's death, an essential historical fact upon which the profound truth of His bodily resurrection would immediately follow, proving Him to be the prophesied Messiah and victorious King. This divine orchestration, where even the darkest human acts served God's righteous purpose, underscores the gospel's power and validity.