Acts 2 25

Acts 2:25 kjv

For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

Acts 2:25 nkjv

For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

Acts 2:25 niv

David said about him: "?'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Acts 2:25 esv

For David says concerning him, "'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

Acts 2:25 nlt

King David said this about him: 'I see that the LORD is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 25 Meaning

This verse, a quote by Peter from Psalm 16:8, is central to his sermon on Pentecost, declaring that King David, moved by prophetic spirit, spoke not of himself, but foresaw and testified concerning the Messiah, Jesus. It portrays Jesus' unwavering trust in God, symbolized by God's constant presence ("before my face") and powerful support ("at my right hand"), assuring His resurrection and triumph over death and Hades, guaranteeing He would not be overcome or suffer decay. Peter presents this as the ultimate assurance of Christ's steadfastness and eventual glorification.

Acts 2 25 Context

Acts 2:25 is spoken by Peter as part of his Spirit-inspired sermon to a multitude of devout Jews from every nation gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 2:5). Having witnessed the supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter seized the moment to explain these events not as drunken behavior but as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, which then leads him to proclaim Jesus as the crucified and resurrected Messiah. This verse serves as Peter's scriptural proof text from Psalm 16:8, part of a larger argument (Acts 2:25-36) where he uses King David's words to demonstrate that David, being a prophet, spoke of Christ's resurrection rather than his own. The historical context involves an audience familiar with the Old Testament, making David's prophetic writings a powerful and persuasive argument for the identity and resurrection of Jesus.

Acts 2 25 Word analysis

• "For David speaks concerning Him:"

  • "For" (γάρ, gar): Introduces the reason or explanation. Peter supports his claim that God raised Jesus by appealing to scriptural prophecy.
  • "David" (Δαυΐδ, Dauid): Refers to the revered King David, patriarch, and author of many Psalms. Peter asserts David's prophetic authority, which carried great weight for his Jewish audience. David, though dead, "being therefore a prophet" (Acts 2:30), accurately foresaw Christ's resurrection.
  • "speaks" (λέγει, legei): Present tense, emphasizing the ongoing truth and relevance of David's prophetic word.
  • "concerning Him" (εἰς αὐτὸν, eis auton): "Him" refers unambiguously to Jesus Christ. This is Peter's pivotal interpretive key: Psalm 16 cannot be fully about David, but points beyond him to the Messiah. Peter is presenting a Messianic reading of the Psalm.

• "‘I saw the Lord always before my face,"

  • "I" (ἔβλεπον, eblepon, from βλέπω, blepō - "I was seeing"): In the original Psalm 16:8 (LXX), the verb is "προορώμην" (proorōmē), "I saw beforehand" or "I was always beholding," implying not just physical sight but deep spiritual awareness, foresight, or trust. Peter applies this deep foresight/spiritual constant vision of God by Jesus during His earthly life, even through suffering and death.
  • "the Lord" (τὸν Κύριον, ton Kyrion): In the Septuagint, Kyrios often translates the Hebrew Tetragrammaton YHWH (Yahweh). Peter's use implies a divine reference that, through the Psalm's Messianic lens, speaks of Christ's absolute reliance upon and communion with God the Father. This foreshadows Jesus' own divine authority as Lord.
  • "always before my face" (διὰ παντὸς ἐνώπιον μου): Conveys a constant, intimate, and focused awareness of God's presence, counsel, and guidance. For Jesus, this meant absolute trust in God's plan and presence, even facing death. This perfect reliance allowed Him to walk in divine purpose.

• "For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken;’"

  • "For He is at my right hand" (ὅτι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου ἐστίν): "Right hand" (δεξιῶν, dexiōn) symbolizes strength, power, help, vindication, honor, and a position of favor. God's powerful presence supports and upholds. For Christ, this refers to God the Father providing continuous, unwavering support throughout His life, especially during His suffering and resurrection.
  • "that I may not be shaken" (ἵνα μὴ σαλευθῶ, hina mē saleuthō): "Shaken" (σαλευθῶ, saleuthō) means to be disturbed, moved, thrown off balance, or overthrown. Here, it signifies ultimate security, steadfastness, and immovability. Peter applies this to Christ's absolute victory over death; He could not be held by Hades or experience corruption (Acts 2:27, 31) because God was continually with Him, sustaining Him for resurrection.

Acts 2 25 Bonus section

Peter's interpretation of Psalm 16 highlights an essential aspect of biblical hermeneutics for early Christians: understanding that Old Testament prophecies often have multiple layers of fulfillment, pointing ultimately to Christ. David spoke genuinely of his own relationship with God, but in a prophetic sense, his words contained a deeper truth about the Messiah. This approach underscores the organic unity of Scripture, where God’s plan unfolds progressively, with Old Testament figures and events often serving as types or shadows of Christ. For believers, this verse illustrates that perfect trust in God leads to unwavering steadfastness, even in the face of death, assuring ultimate victory and vindication through His power. It serves as a reminder of Christ's perfect obedience and reliance, which set the pattern for the church.

Acts 2 25 Commentary

Acts 2:25 is a powerful theological statement at the core of Peter's Pentecost sermon. Peter skillfully uses the Septuagint translation of Psalm 16:8 to demonstrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, effectively transforming a Psalm, commonly interpreted as solely pertaining to David, into a Messianic prophecy. Peter’s argument pivots on the phrase "I saw the Lord," interpreting it as Christ's own unwavering communion and absolute dependence on the Father, ensuring His ultimate triumph over death. The imagery of God "at my right hand" underscores divine sustenance and strength, ensuring that the Messiah, though dying, could not be "shaken" or held by the grave. This verse, therefore, affirms Christ's perfect reliance on God, His prophetic destiny to overcome death, and implicitly, His divine nature as the "Lord" foreseen. Peter's usage provides a model for understanding how Old Testament scriptures prophetically point to Christ's person and work.