Acts 13:33 kjv
God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Acts 13:33 nkjv
God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'
Acts 13:33 niv
he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: "?'You are my son; today I have become your father.'
Acts 13:33 esv
this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'
Acts 13:33 nlt
and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus: 'You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father. '
Acts 13 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 2:7 | "I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, ‘You are My son; Today I have begotten You.’" | Source of the prophecy. |
| Rom 1:3-4 | "concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead..." | Resurrection as declaration of Sonship. |
| Heb 1:5 | "For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You'?" | Applying Ps 2:7 to Christ's divine Sonship. |
| Heb 5:5 | "So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but He who said to Him, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You'..." | Application of Ps 2:7 to Christ's high priesthood. |
| Acts 2:24 | "But God raised Him up again, releasing Him from the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." | Peter's sermon on Jesus' resurrection. |
| Acts 2:32 | "This Jesus God has raised up again, to which we are all witnesses." | Witness to the resurrection. |
| Acts 3:15 | "...the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. Of this we are witnesses." | God raising Jesus. |
| Acts 4:10 | "let it be known to all of you... by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead..." | Specific reference to Jesus' resurrection. |
| Acts 5:30 | "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you murdered by hanging on a tree." | Divine act of raising Jesus. |
| Acts 13:30 | "But God raised Him from the dead..." | Immediate context, repeated affirmation. |
| Acts 13:34 | "And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way..." | Reinforces resurrection, confirms permanence. |
| Acts 13:37 | "But He whom God raised up underwent no corruption." | Resurrection leading to incorruption. |
| Col 1:18 | "...He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead..." | Jesus as firstborn through resurrection. |
| Rev 1:5 | "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead..." | Similar affirmation of His preeminence. |
| 1 Cor 15:20 | "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who are asleep." | Christ's resurrection as firstfruits. |
| Eph 1:19-20 | "...and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might, which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead..." | God's mighty power in resurrection. |
| Phil 2:9 | "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name..." | Exaltation following death and resurrection. |
| John 1:18 | "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." | Jesus' eternal unique Sonship. |
| Matt 3:17 | "and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" | Declaration of Sonship at baptism. |
| Luke 1:35 | "...therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God." | Incarnation as divine Son. |
| 2 Sam 7:14 | "I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me..." | Davidic covenant, messianic promise. |
| Acts 3:22 | "Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall listen in everything...’" | Prophetic raising up, potentially layered meaning of "raised up". |
Acts 13 verses
Acts 13 33 Meaning
In Acts 13:33, God's promise to Israel, made to their ancestors, is declared to be fully realized and brought to complete fulfillment through Jesus Christ for the contemporary generation. The core of this fulfillment is God's act of raising up Jesus from the dead. This resurrection is presented as the definitive event that validates Jesus' divine identity and Messiahship, perfectly echoing the ancient prophecy found in Psalm 2:7, "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You." The verse highlights that Jesus' resurrection was the public declaration of His eternal Sonship and His enthronement as the Messianic King, thereby bringing God's long-awaited redemptive plan to its climax.
Acts 13 33 Context
Acts 13:33 is part of Paul's inaugural recorded sermon in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:16-41), delivered to Jews and Gentile God-fearers in the synagogue. Paul begins by reviewing Israel's history from the Exodus to David, setting the stage for the arrival of the Messiah from David's line (v. 23). He then introduces John the Baptist, Jesus' crucifixion by unknowing Jewish leaders, and crucial for this verse, Jesus' resurrection (vv. 27-30). Paul emphasizes that God brought Jesus from the dead and appeared to many, presenting this as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises made to their fathers (v. 32). Verse 33 then directly supports this claim by quoting Psalm 2:7, linking Jesus' resurrection to a prophetic declaration of His divine Sonship and enthronement. This forms the theological bedrock of Paul's argument that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior.
Acts 13 33 Word analysis
- God (Theos): Emphasizes the divine initiative and sovereignty behind the entire plan of salvation and the resurrection of Jesus. It is God Himself who acts.
- fulfilled (ekplēroō): From the Greek "ekplēroō," meaning "to fulfill completely," "to carry out to the full," or "to accomplish fully." It's stronger than a simple fulfillment, signifying that the promise has been brought to a definitive, conclusive realization, leaving no part undone.
- this (touto): Refers directly back to "the promise made to the fathers" in Acts 13:32. This includes the promise of a savior, a kingdom, and restoration.
- for us their children: Paul identifies his audience, whether ethnic Jews or God-fearers aligned with Israel's heritage, as the beneficiaries of these ancient promises. It underscores a generational and continuous divine plan.
- in that He has raised up (anistēmi): The Greek verb "anistēmi" has a dual meaning: it can mean to "raise up" or "cause to stand up" in a general sense (e.g., raise up a prophet, a king, a deliverer as in Deut 18:15; Acts 3:22, 7:37) or specifically to "raise from the dead." While the former might subtly hint at Jesus' appearing as the long-awaited figure, the direct citation of Psalm 2:7 immediately after solidifies the meaning here as resurrection from the dead, which subsequent verses (13:34, 37) unequivocally confirm.
- Jesus: The specific historical figure, the central person through whom God's promise is fulfilled.
- as it is also written (hōs kai gegraptai): Conveys the authoritative basis for Paul's claim. The perfect tense of the verb "gegraptai" ("it stands written") indicates an abiding truth, that the scripture remains valid and fulfilled.
- in the second Psalm: Pinpoints the specific scriptural reference (Psalm 2), a well-known messianic or royal Psalm in Jewish tradition.
- You are My Son (Sy hyios mou ei): A direct divine declaration of unique and eternal relationship. It asserts Jesus' singular, pre-existent Sonship with God.
- Today I have begotten You (egō sēmeron gegenna ēō se):
- "Today" (sēmeron): This term is not limited to a literal 24-hour period. In biblical usage, it signifies a decisive, divinely appointed moment. In Psalm 2, it refers to the moment of the king's enthronement or divine appointment. Here, Paul interprets this "Today" as the specific historical moment of Jesus' resurrection. The resurrection served as the ultimate divine pronouncement and public validation of Jesus' identity as God's Son and Messianic King, enthroning Him in power.
- "I have begotten" (gegennaēka): In the context of Psalm 2, "begotten" is understood in a theological and judicial sense, referring not to biological birth but to a king's public installation, enthronement, and declaration of divine status/adoption. For Jesus, while He was always God's eternal Son (John 1:1, 18), the resurrection was the powerful "begetting" in the sense of a grand, public "declaration" of His Sonship with power (Rom 1:4), His appointment to supreme rule, and His becoming "firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18, Rev 1:5). It is His spiritual birth into a glorified, resurrected existence and installation as the king-priest.
Acts 13 33 Bonus section
The application of Psalm 2:7 to the resurrection of Jesus in Acts 13:33 highlights a dynamic understanding of Old Testament prophecy in the New Testament. It shows that prophecies can have layers of fulfillment or even a greater fulfillment beyond their initial historical context. While Psalm 2 initially might have spoken of a historical Davidic king's enthronement, the New Testament authors, guided by the Holy Spirit, reveal its ultimate, eschatological, and unique fulfillment in Jesus Christ through His resurrection and exaltation. This deepens the Messianic significance of the Psalms and underscores the theological truth that God's plans are unfolded across time but climax in Christ. This "begetting" through resurrection signifies a transition not from non-sonship to sonship, but from an earthly, humbled Son to the exalted Son of God with power, the King in His full reign.
Acts 13 33 Commentary
Acts 13:33 encapsulates the essence of the Gospel preached by Paul: the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God's ancient promises. Paul asserts that God’s pledge to Israel, pointing towards a Deliverer and His saving work, has culminated not merely in Jesus' earthly life or ministry, but definitively in His rising from the dead. This act of resurrection is God's grandest testimony, serving as the "begetting" of Psalm 2:7, effectively proclaiming Jesus as "My Son" and inaugurating His reign. It’s a divine validation, enthroning the resurrected Jesus as Lord and Messiah. This pivotal moment underscores the radical shift in God's redemptive plan, establishing the resurrection as the cornerstone of Christian faith and hope.