Acts 13:36

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

For {G1063}{G3303} David {G1138}, after he had served {G5256} his own {G2398} generation {G1074} by the will {G1012} of God {G2316}, fell on sleep {G2837}, and {G2532} was laid {G4369} unto {G4314} his {G846} fathers {G3962}, and {G2532} saw {G1492} corruption {G1312}:

For David did indeed serve God’s purposes in his own generation; but after that, he died, was buried with his fathers and did see decay.

For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.

For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

Context

Acts 13:36 is part of Paul's sermon delivered in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia, recorded in Acts 13:16-41. In this powerful address, Paul traces God's redemptive history from Israel's Exodus to the coming of Jesus Christ. He uses the life and death of King David as a crucial point of contrast, building a compelling argument for the resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This verse specifically highlights David's mortality to emphasize Christ's immortality.

Key Themes

  • David's Faithful Service: The phrase "served his own generation by the will of God" underscores David's life as one lived in accordance with divine purpose. It acknowledges his significant role in Israel's history as a king, warrior, and prophet, fulfilling God's plan for his time.
  • The Reality of Human Mortality: Despite his greatness and divine favor, David, like all humans, "fell on sleep" (a common biblical euphemism for death) and was "laid unto his fathers," meaning he was buried. This establishes the universal truth of death, even for those greatly used by God.
  • The Prophetic Contrast to Christ: The core message of this verse, especially "and saw corruption," is to set up a vital distinction. Paul is preparing the audience to understand that while David's body decayed in the tomb, Jesus' body did not, thus proving His unique resurrection and messianic identity. This directly refers to Psalm 16:10, which prophesied that God's Holy One would not "see corruption."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "fell on sleep" (ἐκοιμήθη, ekoimēthē) is a gentle euphemism for death, often used in the New Testament, particularly when referring to believers. It conveys the idea of rest and implies a future awakening, though in David's case, Paul uses it to emphasize his mortality. The crucial phrase "saw corruption" (εἶδεν διαφθοράν, eiden diaphthoran) refers to the process of physical decay. Paul's argument hinges on the fact that David's body underwent this natural process, setting the stage for the profound contrast with Jesus Christ, who "saw no corruption" (Acts 13:37).

Practical Application

Acts 13:36 offers several powerful applications for believers today:

  • Purposeful Living: David's life reminds us to "serve our own generation by the will of God." This encourages believers to seek God's purpose for their lives and faithfully execute it in their time, understanding that each person has a unique role to play in God's unfolding plan.
  • Hope Beyond Mortality: While acknowledging the reality of human death and decay, the verse serves as a preamble to the glorious truth of Christ's resurrection. It directs our hope not to an earthly king or human achievement, but to the Risen Lord, who conquered death and offers eternal life to all who believe.
  • Confirmation of Prophecy: Paul's use of David's life and death demonstrates how God's Word, even centuries later, is precisely fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This strengthens our faith in the reliability and divine inspiration of Scripture.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

  • 1 Kings 2:10

    So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

  • Acts 13:22

    And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

  • 2 Samuel 7:12

    And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:14

    So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

  • Genesis 3:19

    In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

  • Psalms 78:71

    From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

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