Acts 2:29
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. 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.
Peter freely declared to the multitudes at Pentecost that the honored patriarch David had died and was buried, and that his tomb with its remains was still among them in Jerusalem, carefully preserved unto that day.
Because David still lay in his grave, his words about not being left in the grave and the Holy One not seeing corruption could not describe himself, for he had neither risen nor ascended.
David spoke as a prophet to whom God had sworn that a descendant from his own line would be raised up to sit on his throne, and he foresaw Christ's resurrection.
That promise points to Jesus, whom God raised before His body decayed, in contrast to David whose body saw corruption, as the apostles proved by the empty tomb and by seeing and speaking with the risen and ascended Lord.
David therefore has not ascended into heaven but rests among the dead awaiting the resurrection, showing that the righteous do not go to heaven at death, and that only through the resurrection by virtue of Christ's resurrection can he at last sit at the right hand of God.
Pentecost Setting and Statement
The saying belongs to the Pentecost witness to the risen Saviour, given through the disciples to the multitudes assembled for the great festival in Jerusalem. It was spoken after the disciples had waited in obedience to the command not to depart from Jerusalem, spending days together confessing their sins and praying for the promised Holy Spirit and the gift of the Father. There they publicly testified to Christ's resurrection, Peter speaking freely through the Holy Spirit.
David is presented as the revered patriarch and honored ancestor, whose standing carried weight with Jewish hearers. Peter appeals to that standing while tracing Christ's lineage directly to David's house. He uses David in this way to meet the prejudice of his hearers, rather than resting the appeal on Jesus' teachings alone.
The statement sets forth the plain fact that David died and was buried. His sepulchre with its remains was still with the hearers in Peter's day, known, present in Jerusalem, and carefully preserved. That his tomb remained known established that his words could not describe his own experience.
Prophecy of Christ's Resurrection
Because David remained in his grave, his words about not being left in the grave and about the Holy One not seeing corruption could not describe his own resurrection or ascension. The fact that he had died and was buried, and that his tomb with its remains was still known and carefully preserved in Jerusalem in Peter's day, proves the prophecy did not refer to David himself. David was not describing his own rising, for he stayed among the dead awaiting the resurrection rather than having ascended to heaven.
David spoke as a prophet who foresaw Christ's resurrection. God had sworn to him that a descendant from his own line would be raised up to sit on his throne, and in that prophetic foresight he spoke of Christ.
The prophecy points to Jesus, whom God raised before His body decayed, in contrast to David whose body saw corruption. Jesus was the one God raised from the dead, and Peter declares that resurrection as fulfilled. The apostles confirmed this by finding the tomb empty and by seeing and speaking with the risen Jesus, whose resurrection and ascension fulfilled the prophecy.
Death and Resurrection Hope
David is both dead and buried, and has not ascended into heaven at death but is still resting among the dead in his grave, awaiting the resurrection. His tomb remained in Jerusalem and was still with the hearers in Peter's day, known and carefully preserved, so his words about not being left in the grave and about the Holy One not seeing corruption could not refer to himself. The fact that David remains in the grave until the resurrection proves that the righteous do not go to heaven when they die but remain in the grave until the resurrection. It is only through the resurrection, and by virtue of the fact that Christ has risen, that David can at last sit at the right hand of God.
The sermon concludes that God has made the same Jesus whom the house of Israel crucified both Lord and Christ. The hearers were pricked in heart to ask what to do, and were called to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. They were warned to save themselves from the untoward generation, and about three thousand glad believers were added by baptism. Those added continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers, continuing daily with one accord with gladness and singleness of heart while the Lord added the saved to the church daily.
After the descent of the Holy Spirit the disciples go forth with one desire for the salvation of souls, rejoicing in communion with saints, tender, thoughtful, and self-denying. They reveal Christ's love in word and deed to awaken it in others, and believers are to cherish that love. Believers are to obey the new commandment to love one another as Christ loved them, united to Christ and magnifying the power of a Saviour who justifies by His righteousness.