Acts 2:35

Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

Until {G2193} I make {G302}{G5087} thy {G4675} foes {G2190} thy {G4675} footstool {G4228}{G5286}.

โ€˜Adonai said to my Lord,
โ€œSit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.โ€โ€™

until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.โ€โ€™

Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.

Commentary

Acts 2:35 is a powerful declaration from Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost, quoting directly from Psalm 110:1. It speaks to the ultimate authority and dominion of Jesus Christ, affirming His divine exaltation and future triumph over all opposition. This verse is central to Peter's argument that Jesus, whom they crucified, is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, now seated at the right hand of God.

Context

This verse is part of Peter's pivotal sermon on the Day of Pentecost, delivered to a crowd of devout Jews from every nation gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:5). After the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which caused the apostles to speak in various tongues, Peter stood up to explain these events. His sermon systematically argues that the resurrection and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth fulfill Old Testament prophecies, particularly those concerning David's greater Son, the Messiah. Peter highlights that David himself prophesied about Christ's ascension and future reign, citing Psalm 110:1 as direct evidence that God would exalt the Messiah until all His enemies were subdued.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Christ's Exaltation: The phrase "Until I make thy foes thy footstool" emphasizes God the Father's active role in establishing Christ's supreme authority. It underscores the divine plan for Jesus to rule as King and Lord, having been resurrected and ascended to the right hand of God (Acts 2:33).
  • Christ's Ultimate Victory and Dominion: The imagery of making "foes thy footstool" signifies complete subjugation and triumph. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, placing one's foot on a defeated enemy's neck or back was a powerful symbol of absolute conquest and dominion. This theme assures believers of Christ's eventual and total victory over all spiritual and physical opposition, including sin, death, and evil.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Peter's use of Psalm 110:1 demonstrates how Old Testament prophecies find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This specific psalm is one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament concerning Christ's messianic role, His priesthood, and His reign. Peter's application of this prophecy solidifies the claim that Jesus is the promised Messiah, validating the Christian message.
  • The Interim Reign: The word "Until" implies a period during which Christ reigns from heaven while His enemies are progressively being brought under His dominion. This points to the ongoing work of Christ's kingdom and the future consummation when every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10).

Linguistic Insights

The core imagery of "footstool" (Hebrew: ื”ึฒื“ึนื ืจึทื’ึฐืœึทื™, hadom raglay in Psalm 110:1) is crucial. It is not just a place to rest one's feet, but a symbol of complete and utter defeat and subjugation. When a king or conqueror placed his foot on the neck of a vanquished foe, it dramatically displayed his absolute power and the enemy's humiliation. In the context of Acts 2:35, this signifies Jesus Christ's ultimate and undeniable authority over all adversaries, whether spiritual powers or human opposition.

Related Scriptures

  • The original prophecy is found in Psalm 110:1, a messianic psalm attributed to David.
  • Paul echoes this theme of Christ's reign until all enemies are subdued in 1 Corinthians 15:25, specifically mentioning death as the last enemy to be destroyed.
  • The book of Hebrews also references this prophecy in relation to Christ's superior priesthood and heavenly session, confirming that He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool (Hebrews 10:12-13).

Practical Application

Acts 2:35 offers profound assurance and hope to believers today. It reminds us that despite the challenges and opposition we may face, Christ is sovereignly enthroned and actively bringing all things under His dominion. This verse encourages us to place our trust in His ultimate victory and to live with confidence in His divine authority. It also serves as a call to spiritual warfare, knowing that we fight from a position of Christ's guaranteed triumph, empowering us to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 19:19

    And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

  • Revelation 20:3

    And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

  • Isaiah 60:14

    The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

  • Revelation 20:8

    And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea.

  • Revelation 20:15

    And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

  • Romans 16:20

    And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.

  • Isaiah 63:4

    For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
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