Acts 2 29

Acts 2:29 kjv

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Acts 2:29 nkjv

"Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Acts 2:29 niv

"Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.

Acts 2:29 esv

"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Acts 2:29 nlt

"Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn't referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 29 Meaning

Acts 2:29 marks a pivotal point in Peter's Pentecost sermon, where he confidently declares the undeniable mortality of King David, the revered patriarch. By asserting that David both died and was buried, and his tomb remained a physical monument in Jerusalem, Peter establishes a foundational historical truth for his Jewish audience. This serves to contrast David's inescapable human mortality with the predicted divine immortality of the one foretold in the Old Testament, setting the stage for his central argument about Jesus Christ's resurrection.

Acts 2 29 Context

Acts 2:29 is embedded within Peter's inaugural sermon at Pentecost, delivered to a large, diverse Jewish audience in Jerusalem. The miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) prompts questions and mockery from the crowd. Peter, empowered by the Spirit, rises to explain these events, linking them directly to prophecies from the Old Testament and applying them to Jesus of Nazareth.

This specific verse serves as a crucial point of transition in Peter's argument concerning Psalm 16. Prior to verse 29, Peter has quoted Psalm 16:8-11, which speaks of not being abandoned to Hades or experiencing decay. Peter aims to convince his listeners that David, as the author of Psalm 16, could not have been speaking about himself. The immediate historical context involves David, the great king and revered prophet of Israel, whose tomb was a recognized landmark in Jerusalem, visited and honored by Jews. By affirming David's well-known death and burial, Peter appeals to common knowledge and respect for David, establishing a firm, irrefutable factual premise. This undisputed reality then provides a stark contrast necessary to understand the subsequent claim: that Psalm 16 must therefore refer to a different "Holy One"—one who would not see decay—namely, Jesus, the Messiah.

Acts 2 29 Word analysis

• Brothers (Ἀνδρες ἀδελφοί, Andres adelphoi):

  • Significance: A common, respectful form of address to fellow Jewish men, emphasizing shared heritage and community. It signifies Peter's approach as speaking to kin, aiming for persuasion rather than confrontation at the outset, building a common ground.

• I may confidently say (ἔξον εἰπεῖν μετὰ παρρησίας, exon eipein meta parrhēsias):

  • exon (from exesti): "it is permitted," "it is lawful," or "it is possible." Indicates divine permission or authorization.
  • eipein: "to say."
  • parrhēsias (from parrhesia): "boldness," "freedom of speech," "unrestrained frankness," "plainness."
  • Significance: Peter asserts his right and divine authorization to speak plainly and directly about even sensitive truths, like the death of a beloved figure like David. This highlights the Holy Spirit's empowerment enabling audacious witness, distinct from human arrogance. It underscores the weight and truthfulness of his subsequent declaration.

• concerning the patriarch David (περὶ τοῦ πατριάρχου Δαυίδ, peri tou patriarchou Dauid):

  • patriarchou (from patriarchēs): "father of a race," "head of a family/tribe," "ancestor."
  • Significance: Elevates David's status not just as king but as a foundational figure in Israel's lineage, evoking profound respect and connection. This title resonates deeply with the Jewish audience, underscoring David's significance in their national and religious identity, making the statement about his mortality even more poignant and a stronger rhetorical foundation.

• that he both died (ὅτι καὶ ἐτελεύτησεν, hoti kai eteleutēsen):

  • eteleutēsen (from teleutaō): "he ended," "he completed," "he died."
  • Significance: A simple, unambiguous statement of physical death, an unassailable fact for all human beings. This directness clears any spiritualized interpretations of David's fate in the audience's mind.

• and was buried (καὶ ἐτάφη, kai etaphe):

  • etaphe (from thaptō): "he was buried."
  • Significance: Confirms the physical disposition of his body into the grave. Burial was a critical aspect of Jewish custom, confirming mortality and the finality of earthly life. It solidifies the "dead" aspect.

• and his tomb is with us to this day (καὶ τὸ μνῆμα αὐτοῦ ἔστιν ἐν ἡμῖν ἄχρι τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, kai to mnēma autou estin en hēmin achri tēs hēmeras tautēs):

  • mnēma: "tomb," "memorial."
  • achri tēs hēmeras tautēs: "to this very day."
  • Significance: This phrase provides concrete, visible, and universally verifiable evidence for David's death and burial. It appeals to their contemporary experience; David's tomb was a recognized, prominent landmark in Jerusalem, proving his bodily remains were indeed present. This physical proof is vital for setting up the contrast with Christ, whose tomb would soon be shown to be empty. It establishes the "proof by public knowledge" on which Peter will build his case for Jesus' resurrection.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day": This entire clause is a powerful assertion of incontestable fact. It emphasizes the absolute reality of David's physical death and remaining dead. Peter's argument hinges on this undeniable truth, which prepares the way for his crucial differentiation: if Psalm 16 cannot be speaking of David himself (since David did experience decay), it must then refer to the Messiah. This undeniable reality about David serves as a logical pre-condition for the supernatural claim about Jesus' resurrection and incorruption. The physical presence of David's tomb contrasts sharply with the soon-to-be-implied empty tomb of Jesus, central to the apostolic message.

Acts 2 29 Bonus section

Peter's rhetorical strategy in Acts 2:29 is exemplary. He utilizes an a fortiori argument (from the stronger/more evident to the less evident). The evident truth is David's death and burial. The implication is that if even the great King David could not escape the universal fate of mortality, then Psalm 16 must speak of someone greater, someone whose physical nature transcends normal human experience. This subtle, yet powerful, move builds conviction progressively. The term "patriarch" connects David not just to monarchy but to the Abrahamic covenant, subtly aligning the lineage of the Messiah with God's long-term plan, of which David was a part. The very existence of David's tomb was a perpetual, visual reminder in Jerusalem, anchoring Peter's theological assertion in concrete, historical reality that no one present could dispute.

Acts 2 29 Commentary

Acts 2:29 is a linchpin in Peter's Pentecost sermon, strategically crafted to build an undeniable case for Christ's resurrection. By opening with an uncontroverted historical fact – the mortality of David, Israel's beloved king – Peter grounds his message in shared understanding. He asserts with inspired confidence that David, despite his exalted status, fully succumbed to death and lies interred in a known tomb, accessible to them "to this day." This deliberate emphasis on David's undeniable physical end (death, burial, and decaying body in a tomb) lays a foundational premise.

The logical necessity of this verse is paramount: if David, who penned Psalm 16, himself experienced physical death and decay, then Psalm 16:10 ("You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay") cannot refer to David. This then allows Peter to transition seamlessly and powerfully to Jesus Christ, arguing that the prophecy was indeed fulfilled not in David, but in Jesus, whose body did not see decay, proving Him to be the prophesied "Holy One" who resurrected. Thus, David's mortality serves as the essential stepping stone to affirm Jesus' divine, incorruptible victory over death, central to the gospel message.