Acts 13 37

Acts 13:37 kjv

But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Acts 13:37 nkjv

but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.

Acts 13:37 niv

But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

Acts 13:37 esv

but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.

Acts 13:37 nlt

No, it was a reference to someone else ? someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

Acts 13 verses

Acts 13 37 Meaning

Acts 13:37 proclaims that Jesus, the One whom God raised from the dead, experienced no physical decay or corruption in His body after His crucifixion and burial. This distinct reality sets Him apart from all mortal men, including King David, and serves as definitive proof that He is the promised Messiah and God's Holy One prophesied in Psalm 16:10. This physical preservation of His body is integral to the unique nature of His resurrection, affirming its authenticity and finality over death.

Acts 13 37 Context

Acts chapter 13 marks the beginning of Paul’s first missionary journey, accompanied by Barnabas. After ministering in Salamis and Paphos on Cyprus, they arrive in Antioch of Pisidia. Upon being invited to speak in the synagogue on the Sabbath, Paul delivers a pivotal sermon, laying out salvation history from Abraham through David, culminating in Jesus. Verse 37 comes at the climax of his argument concerning Jesus' resurrection. Paul meticulously contrasts King David, whose tomb and body saw decay (as noted in Acts 2:29 and 1 Kgs 2:10), with Jesus, proving that Jesus alone fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 16:10. This direct fulfillment of prophecy was a powerful polemic against any Jewish understanding that might apply Psalm 16:10 solely to David or future Jewish leaders without accounting for their natural death and bodily corruption. For the synagogue audience of Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, it emphasized the unique nature of Jesus' identity and divine calling, validating His messianic claim.

Acts 13 37 Word analysis

• But: (δὲ, de) - A conjunctive particle marking a transition or contrast. Here, it strongly contrasts the previous statement about David's death and burial with Jesus' unique experience.

• he whom: (ὃν, hon) - Accusative relative pronoun, referring to Jesus, the object of God's action.

• God: (ὁ Θεὸς, ho Theos) - The definite article "the" emphasizes the singular, true God. Highlights divine agency.

• raised up: (ἤγειρεν, ēgeiren) - Aorist active indicative of egeirō, meaning to raise, awaken, or restore to life. Conveys a singular, decisive act. In this context, it unequivocally signifies a physical resurrection from death.

• saw: (εἶδεν, eiden) - Aorist active indicative of horaō, "to see." Here, it's used idiomatically to mean "to experience" or "undergo," as in "He did not experience corruption." This common Hebraism reflects the Septuagint's (LXX) translation of Psalm 16:10.

• no: (οὐκ, ouk) - Absolute negation. Emphatically states the complete absence of decay.

• corruption: (διαφθοράν, diaphthoran) - Accusative singular of diaphthora, derived from diaphtheirō (to utterly destroy, corrupt). This critical term signifies decomposition, decay, or putrefaction, specifically the physical rotting of a dead body. Its usage directly references the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew word shachat (שַׁחַת) in Psalm 16:10, which refers to destruction or the pit/grave where bodies decay.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "he whom God raised up": This phrase attributes Jesus' resurrection entirely to God's sovereign power and divine intervention. It signifies God's vindication of Jesus and authentication of His mission. It separates Jesus' raising from any human act and positions it as a divine miracle.
  • "saw no corruption": This is the theological lynchpin of the verse. It directly refutes the common human experience of decay after death, which applies to all others, including revered figures like David. This absence of corruption points to the unique, incorruptible nature of Christ's resurrected body, validating His status as the promised Holy One and affirming His ultimate victory over the grave and its physical consequences. It underlines the completeness of His resurrection and distinguishes Him from those whose bodies return to dust.

Acts 13 37 Bonus section

The concept of diaphthora (corruption/decay) is crucial for understanding the distinctiveness of Christ's resurrection. In the Old Testament, particularly Psalm 16:10, the Hebrew shachat could refer to both the "pit" (the grave, Hades, Sheol) and the "decay" that occurs within it. The Septuagint (LXX) translators rendered it as diaphthora, explicitly emphasizing physical decomposition. This linguistic precision underpins Paul's argument: not only was Jesus' soul not abandoned to Hades (spiritual dimension of death), but His flesh also did not undergo biological degradation (physical dimension of death). This makes His resurrection utterly unique. Scholars often highlight that rabbinic interpretations of Psalm 16:10 applied it either generally to righteous individuals being preserved from great suffering or specifically to David in a more metaphorical sense, avoiding corruption in Sheol (i.e., not utterly perishing). Paul directly challenges these interpretations by pointing to the historical fact of David's decayed body, thus isolating Jesus as the sole and complete fulfillment of the prophecy. This further reinforces the physicality and reality of Jesus' post-resurrection existence, countering any idea that His resurrection was merely spiritual or visionary.

Acts 13 37 Commentary

Acts 13:37 is a concise yet profoundly significant theological declaration. Paul, building upon the prophecy in Psalm 16:10 and contrasting Jesus with King David, argues for the unique physical reality of Christ's resurrection. David's body decayed, confirming he was a mortal man who, despite being "a man after God's own heart," eventually saw corruption. Jesus, however, did not see decay. This is not merely a spiritual raising but a physical one, preserving His body from putrefaction. This incorruptibility testifies to His singular status as God's "Holy One" and demonstrates that He truly conquered death in its entirety – not just spiritually but physically. This complete triumph over the grave is the bedrock of Christian hope, signifying Jesus' complete victory and guaranteeing the future resurrection to incorruptibility for those who believe in Him.

• Example 1: The difference between a temporary triumph over death (like Lazarus) who later died again, and Jesus' eternal triumph that abolished corruption forever.
• Example 2: A stark contrast between every cemetery containing decaying remains and the empty tomb of Jesus, indicating His physical non-corruption.