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 {G435} and brethren {G80}, let {G2036} me {G1832} freely {G3326}{G3954} speak {G2036} unto {G4314} you {G5209} of {G4012} the patriarch {G3966} David {G1138}, that {G3754} he is {G5053} both {G2532} dead {G5053} and {G2532} buried {G2290}, and {G2532} his {G846} sepulchre {G3418} is {G2076} with {G1722} us {G2254} unto {G891} this {G5026} day {G2250}.

“Brothers, I know I can say to you frankly that the patriarch David died and was buried — his tomb is with us to this day.

Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day.

Commentary

Acts 2:29 is a pivotal verse in Peter's powerful sermon on the Day of Pentecost, where he boldly proclaims the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Following the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter addresses a diverse crowd of devout Jews in Jerusalem, systematically building his case for Jesus as the promised Messiah. This verse serves as a crucial logical step in his argument.

Context

This statement by Peter comes directly after he has quoted Psalm 16:8-11, which speaks of the Holy One not seeing corruption. To demonstrate that King David, the author of the Psalm, could not have been speaking of himself in this prophecy, Peter points to the undeniable, tangible fact of David's death and burial. The presence of David's tomb ("sepulchre") in Jerusalem was a well-known and verifiable reality to his audience, serving as irrefutable evidence that David himself had experienced death and decay, unlike the one prophesied in the Psalm. This sets the stage for Peter to pivot and apply the prophecy directly to Jesus Christ, who did not see corruption but was raised from the dead.

Key Themes

  • The Mortality of David: Peter emphasizes that even the revered King David, a man after God's own heart and a central figure in Israel's history, was subject to death and burial, a universal human experience. This highlights the distinction between David's earthly end and the eternal triumph of the Messiah.
  • Empirical Evidence in Apologetics: The physical existence of David's tomb served as a crucial piece of verifiable evidence, allowing Peter to argue convincingly that David's prophecies about resurrection must refer to someone else—namely, Jesus. This demonstrates the early church's reliance on historical facts to support their theological claims.
  • Foundation for Christ's Resurrection: By firmly establishing David's mortality and the presence of his tomb, Peter clears the way to present Jesus as the true fulfillment of the resurrection prophecies, specifically those found in the Psalms.

Linguistic Insights

The term "patriarch" (Greek: patriarchēs) is used by Peter to describe David. This word signifies a revered ancestor or head of a family or tribe, underscoring David's foundational role in Israel's history and his direct lineage to the promised Messiah. Peter's respectful yet firm assertion about David's fate—"he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day"—is crucial for his theological argument, distinguishing David's earthly end from the eternal triumph of Christ.

Related Scriptures

  • The entire sermon of Peter in Acts chapter 2 is a masterful example of early Christian preaching, demonstrating how Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus.
  • Peter directly quotes Psalm 16:10 in Acts 2:27, which is the prophecy about not seeing corruption that David himself did not fulfill.
  • Peter elaborates on David's prophetic role and the fulfillment of God's promise concerning his lineage in Acts 2:30, explaining that David, being a prophet, foresaw the resurrection of the Christ.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us of the importance of historical and factual evidence in understanding biblical truth. Peter's sermon, beginning with an observable fact (David's tomb), then moves to interpret prophecy, and finally declares the risen Christ. For believers today, it reinforces the historical reality of Jesus' death and resurrection, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith. It also teaches us to ground our understanding of scripture in both historical context and divine revelation, much like Peter did in presenting the gospel message.

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

Cross-References

  • Acts 13:36 (9 votes)

    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:

  • 1 Kings 2:10 (4 votes)

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

  • Hebrews 7:4 (4 votes)

    Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

  • Acts 7:8 (4 votes)

    And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so [Abraham] begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac [begat] Jacob; and Jacob [begat] the twelve patriarchs.

  • Acts 7:9 (4 votes)

    And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

  • Nehemiah 3:16 (4 votes)

    After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto [the place] over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.

  • Acts 26:26 (2 votes)

    For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.