Acts 13 34

Acts 13:34 kjv

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Acts 13:34 nkjv

And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I will give you the sure mercies of David.'

Acts 13:34 niv

God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, "?'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'

Acts 13:34 esv

And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'

Acts 13:34 nlt

For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, 'I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.'

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 34 Meaning

Paul declares that God's act of raising Jesus from the dead ensures Jesus will never again experience the process of physical decay. This singular event is the fulfillment of an ancient Old Testament promise, where God guarantees the "sure mercies of David"—the everlasting blessings and covenant faithfulness associated with the Davidic line—are now made steadfast and eternal through Christ's incorruptible resurrection.

Acts 13 34 Context

Acts chapter 13 inaugurates Paul's first missionary journey. In Antioch of Pisidia, Paul preaches in the synagogue, presenting a sweeping history of Israel's salvation, culminating in Jesus the Messiah. He systematically demonstrates how Jesus fulfills prophecies from the Law and Prophets. Leading up to verse 34, Paul has just recounted Jesus' death, burial, and God's powerful act of raising Him from the dead (vv. 29-30), asserting that this resurrection serves as the definitive proof that Jesus is the promised deliverer (v. 32-33). Verse 34 then elaborates on the nature of this resurrection, stressing its incorruptibility, and directly links it to specific Old Testament prophecies concerning the Davidic Covenant, which his audience, comprising Jews and God-fearers, would deeply value. Paul’s strategy is to show how Jesus, by conquering death permanently, perfectly fulfills God’s ancient promises to David.

Acts 13 34 Word analysis

• And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead (καὶ ὅτι ἀνέστησεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν)
  • ὅτι (hoti): "That," indicating a factual statement or the content of the assertion. It underlines the certainty of Jesus' resurrection.
  • ἀνέστησεν (anesthēsen): Aorist active indicative of anistēmi, meaning "to raise up" or "cause to stand again." This highlights God's direct, definitive, and powerful act in raising Jesus.
  • αὐτὸν (auton): "Him," referring explicitly to Jesus.
  • ἐκ νεκρῶν (ek nekrōn): "From the dead ones." The plural "dead ones" emphasizes that Jesus was truly counted among the dead, validating the reality of His prior death.
  • Significance: This foundational statement reiterates the core Christian belief in the physical resurrection of Jesus, a divinely initiated act that substantiates His claim as Messiah.
• now no more to return to corruption (μηκέτι μέλλοντα ὑποστρέφειν εἰς διαφθοράν)
  • μηκέτι (mēketi): "No longer," "no more." A strong negative, signaling a permanent state. Jesus' resurrection is not a mere resuscitation.
  • μέλλοντα (mellonta): Present participle of mellō, "to be about to," or "destined to." It conveys the fixed, future certainty of Jesus' post-resurrection state.
  • ὑποστρέφειν (hypostrephein): Present active infinitive, "to return," "to turn back."
  • εἰς διαφθοράν (eis diaphthoran): "Into corruption," or "decay." The Greek word diaphthora (διαφθοράν) signifies physical decomposition or disintegration of the body after death.
  • Significance: This phrase uniquely defines Jesus' resurrection as glorious and final. Unlike those resurrected temporarily in the Old Testament or by Jesus (e.g., Lazarus), whose bodies would eventually decay, Jesus' body became immortal and incorruptible. This affirms His triumph over death's complete power.
• he said on this wise (οὕτως εἴρηκεν)
  • οὕτως (houtōs): "Thus," or "in this manner." Connects the concept of incorruptible resurrection directly to God's prophetic words.
  • εἴρηκεν (eirēken): Perfect active indicative of legō (to say), "He has said" or "It stands written." The perfect tense emphasizes the enduring and present validity of the spoken divine word.
• I will give you the sure mercies of David (δώσω ὑμῖν τὰ ὅσια Δαυὶδ τὰ πιστά)
  • δώσω (dōsō): Future active indicative of didōmi, "I will give." A declarative divine promise.
  • ὑμῖν (hymin): "To you" (plural). In Paul's sermon, this refers to his Jewish and Gentile audience in the synagogue, encompassing believers. The original context in Isa 55:3 would be directed to Israel.
  • τὰ ὅσια (ta hosia): "The holy things," "sacred promises," "loyalties." This is the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew chasadim (חֲסָדִים) from Isaiah 55:3, which means "loyal love," "faithfulness," or "mercy" (often plural "mercies" or "loving-kindnesses"). By translating as "holy things," the LXX emphasizes their divine, set-apart, and covenantal nature. These are not merely human kindnesses but sacred, binding divine commitments.
  • Δαυὶδ (Dauid): "David." The patriarch of the royal lineage and covenant.
  • τὰ πιστά (ta pista): "The faithful ones," "the trustworthy," "the sure." An adjective qualifying "the holy things," underscoring the reliability and unwavering nature of these promises because God Himself stands behind them.
  • Significance: This core phrase points to God's inviolable Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7), promising an eternal dynasty and kingdom. Paul interprets Jesus' incorruptible resurrection as the ultimate guarantee that these promises—especially regarding the eternal reign of David's descendant—are "sure" and eternally fulfilled in Him, shifting the emphasis from an earthly, temporal kingdom to a spiritual, everlasting one through the Messiah.

Acts 13 34 Bonus section

• The polemical implication within Paul's statement is significant: it directly refutes any notion that the Messiah, like David, would die and remain in the grave. David "saw corruption" (Acts 13:36), but Jesus, uniquely, did not. This emphasizes Jesus' preeminence and divine nature as distinct from all mortal kings, even the revered David.
• By referencing hosia ("holy things") for chasadim ("mercies/loyalties"), the Septuagint, and subsequently Paul, elevates these divine promises from mere acts of kindness to sacred, divinely consecrated commitments, reinforcing their certainty and immutability.
• This verse effectively reorients the Messianic hope from primarily an earthly, nationalistic expectation of restoration to a broader, spiritual, and eternal redemption offered through a resurrected King to all nations. The "sure mercies" transition from largely physical or geopolitical blessings to those of justification, reconciliation, and eternal life, secured by the eternal reign of Christ.

Acts 13 34 Commentary

Acts 13:34 captures a pivotal argument in Paul's sermon, directly linking the uniqueness of Jesus' resurrection to the ancient prophecies concerning King David. When Paul states that God "raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption," he highlights that Jesus' resurrection was not a temporary revival but a transformation into a glorified, immortal state, eternally free from physical decay. This distinct feature differentiates Jesus from all others brought back to life and provides the foundational evidence for His divine identity and permanent victory over death.

Paul then quotes from Isaiah 55:3, declaring, "I will give you the sure mercies of David." In its original context, this passage promised a restored covenant and unwavering blessings to Israel, drawing upon the steadfast love (Hebrew: chasadim) God committed to David. Paul profoundly reinterprets this. Jesus' incorruptible resurrection is presented as the very fulfillment of these "sure mercies." The eternal reign promised to David's heir, the stability of his throne and kingdom, all find their ultimate and unwavering reality in a resurrected Messiah who triumphs over death and decay permanently. Through Jesus, God's covenant loyalty to David becomes actualized, not in an earthly political dynasty that ultimately failed, but in an eternal, spiritual kingdom where salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life are "sure" blessings for all who believe, guaranteed by Christ's indestructible life.