Acts 2 30

Acts 2:30 kjv

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

Acts 2:30 nkjv

Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

Acts 2:30 niv

But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.

Acts 2:30 esv

Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,

Acts 2:30 nlt

But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David's own descendants would sit on his throne.

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 30 Meaning

Acts 2:30 states that King David, empowered as a prophet by God, knew and declared God's specific promise to him. This promise, made with a binding oath, guaranteed that a direct descendant from David's physical lineage would be raised up by God to sit as the Anointed One (the Christ/Messiah) on David's throne. This verse underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises through Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the divine King David foretold.

Acts 2 30 Context

Acts 2:30 is a central point in Peter's Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:14-41), delivered to a multitude of Jews in Jerusalem. Following the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter begins to explain these events by first citing the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16-21). He then pivots to proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah (Acts 2:22), emphasizing His crucifixion by wicked hands, but also His glorious resurrection by God (Acts 2:23-24).

In Acts 2:25-28, Peter references Psalm 16 to demonstrate that David prophesied the resurrection of the Messiah, not of himself, because David "is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day" (Acts 2:29). It is within this clear distinction between David and the promised Messiah that Acts 2:30 provides the scriptural foundation: David, as a prophet, knew precisely that the "Christ" (Messiah) would be his descendant, whom God would "raise up" to sit on David's throne. This sets up Peter's concluding argument that God "has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified" (Acts 2:36), solidifying the resurrection as the definitive proof of Jesus' Davidic and divine Messiahship. The sermon aims to persuade the Jewish audience that the recent events concerning Jesus fulfill their ancient prophecies.

Acts 2 30 Word analysis

• Therefore (οὖν, oun): Connects this statement to the preceding argument in Acts 2:29, which distinguished David's death and burial from the enduring promise of a descendant. It signals a logical conclusion or consequence.

• being a prophet (προφήτης, prophētēs): This highlights David's divine inspiration. He wasn't just a king or poet; God spoke through him, revealing future events, particularly concerning the Messiah (e.g., in Psalms). This lends significant authority to his knowledge.

• and knowing (καὶ εἰδώς, kai eidōs): Indicates a clear, certain, and well-understood knowledge that David possessed. It wasn't guesswork but a divinely revealed understanding.

• that God (ὅτι ὁ θεός, hoti ho theos): Clearly identifies the initiator and guarantor of the promise. The Father is the ultimate author of the Davidic Covenant.

• had sworn with an oath (ὤμοσεν ἐν ὅρκῳ, ōmosen en horkō): This phrase emphasizes the unbreakable nature of God's promise. An "oath" signifies God's own character is pledged, making the fulfillment absolutely certain (Psa 89:3, 132:11; Heb 6:13-18).

• to him (αὐτῷ, autō): Explicitly states that the oath and promise were given directly to David.

• that of the fruit of his loins (ἐκ καρποῦ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ, ek karpou tēs osphyos autou): A Hebraic idiom (like "seed" or "offspring") for physical descendant, emphasizing the direct biological lineage from David.

• according to the flesh (κατὰ σάρκα, kata sarka): Further clarifies the physical, human lineage of the promised Christ. Jesus' humanity and direct genealogical link to David were essential for His claim to the Davidic throne (Rom 1:3).

• he would raise up (ἀναστήσει, anastēsei): This Greek word can mean "raise up" in various senses, including:

  • Bringing into being or causing to appear (like raising up offspring, i.e., procreation).
  • Raising from the dead.In the context of Peter's sermon, immediately after discussing David's burial and before concluding with Jesus' resurrection, the dominant nuance points towards God bringing the Messiah (Jesus) into kingly authority through resurrection. God raised Him up from the dead to then be exalted to the throne.

• Christ (τὸν Χριστόν, ton Christon): The Greek term for Messiah (Hebrew, Mashiach), meaning "the Anointed One." This is the core identity of the promised Davidic King, the fulfiller of all prophecy.

• to sit on his throne (καθίσαι ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ, kathisai epi tou thronou autou): Directly referencing 2 Samuel 7:13 and Psalm 132:11. This signifies kingly rule, authority, and the establishment of a lasting kingdom. It implies David's ultimate throne is a spiritual and eternal one, now occupied by his Messianic descendant.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him": Highlights David's unique status as a prophet who received direct, infallible revelation from God concerning the Messiah. The oath guarantees the promise's certainty and divine origin.
  • "that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh": Emphasizes the human and direct physical lineage of the Messiah from David. This was crucial for Jewish Messianic expectations, requiring the Christ to be of the tribe of Judah and family of David.
  • "he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne": This is the core promise and its fulfillment. "Raise up" implies God's divine action in establishing the Messiah. In Peter's sermon, it particularly highlights God raising Jesus from the dead and exalting Him to kingly authority on the heavenly, ultimate Davidic throne.

Acts 2 30 Bonus section

• Textual Variants: It is noteworthy that some ancient manuscripts omit the phrase "to sit on his throne" after "raise up Christ." However, the overwhelming theological context of Peter's speech (citing Psa 132:11 and culminating in Christ's enthronement at God's right hand) strongly supports the inclusion and interpretation of this phrase, which is found in most significant texts (e.g., Textus Receptus, forming the basis for NKJV). Regardless of the presence of "to sit on his throne" in every manuscript, the purpose of "raising up Christ" in the Davidic covenant is precisely to establish His rule on the throne.
• Progressive Revelation: This verse illustrates the concept of progressive revelation. While David understood a descendant would rule, the fullness of that promise (specifically Christ's resurrection and present heavenly reign) was only clearly revealed and understood through Jesus Christ Himself and explained by His apostles.
• Messianic Expectation: Peter's use of this verse resonated deeply with the Jewish audience's expectation of a coming Messiah, who was widely anticipated to be a descendant of David and a King. Peter masterfully shows how Jesus perfectly fulfills these long-held prophecies.

Acts 2 30 Commentary

Acts 2:30 forms the scriptural lynchpin of Peter's argument that Jesus is the Christ. It serves to link the ancient prophecies and God's unwavering promises to David directly to the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth. Peter asserts that David, though dead, received an divine assurance that his royal line would not end, but rather that a specific descendant—the Anointed One—would establish an eternal reign.

The phrase "raise up" is crucial here. While it certainly implies the continuation of David's line (his offspring), in Peter's immediate context of proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24-32), it gains the deeper significance of God not only bringing this specific descendant into existence through the lineage but also elevating Him to supreme authority through His resurrection and subsequent enthronement. God "raised up" Jesus from the dead precisely so that He could sit on David's throne as the exalted Messiah and Lord. This enthronement, therefore, is not a future earthly one (at this point in the sermon) but is seen as Christ's present session at God's right hand (Acts 2:33-36), exercising divine kingly authority over His people and ultimately over all things.

This verse therefore encapsulates the divine faithfulness, demonstrating that God keeps His covenant promises across millennia, even when circumstances seem bleak. It firmly establishes Jesus' credentials as the legitimate King of Israel, not just genealogically but by divine act, validating Him as the central figure of salvation history.