Acts 13:35-37 · Bible study
Acts 13:35-37 Commentary: The Resurrection Argument from Psalm 16
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul argues that Psalm 16:10 cannot refer to David, who died and decayed, but only to Christ, whom God raised without decay.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul argues that Psalm 16:10 refers to Christ's resurrection, not David's life, because David's body decayed while Jesus' did not.
- Key words: diaphthora (decay, corruption), hosios (holy one), egeirō (raise up), boulē (purpose, counsel), koimaō (fall asleep).
- Main debate: Whether Psalm 16 originally referred to David's deliverance from enemies or was exclusively messianic; Christians read it as prophecy fulfilled in Christ.
- Theological theme: Resurrection as God's vindication of His Holy One and the foundation of forgiveness and justification.
- Best use: Apologetics for the resurrection, gospel preaching, and teaching on Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Christ.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
35So also, He says in another Psalm: ‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’
36For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.
37But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
WEB World English Bible 2000
35Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’
36For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.
37But he whom God raised up saw no decay.
KJV King James Version 1769
35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
36For 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:
37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
35Because he saith also in another psalm, Thou wilt not give thy Holy One to see corruption.
36For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
37but he whom God raised up saw no corruption.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
35wherefore also in another place he saith, Thou shalt not give Thy kind One to see corruption,
36for David, indeed, his own generation having served by the will of God, did fall asleep, and was added unto his fathers, and saw corruption,
37but he whom God did raise up, did not see corruption.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
35Wherefore also he says in another, Thou wilt not suffer thy gracious one to see corruption.
36For David indeed, having in his own generation ministered to the will of God, fell asleep, and was added to his fathers and saw corruption.
37But he whom God raised up did not see corruption.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
35And therefore, in another place also, he saith: Thou shalt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption.
36For David, when he had served in his generation, according to the will of God, slept: and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption.
37But he whom God hath raised from the dead saw no corruption.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 13:35
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Paul's argument rests on a simple contrast. David wrote Psalm 16:10, but his own body decayed in the grave. So the psalm cannot be about him. As Adam Clarke notes, David died, was buried, and never rose again; the words must apply to Jesus alone. Barnes adds that the passage in Psalm 16 could not refer to David and must therefore relate to another person, the Messiah. Calvin points to the Greek word diaphthora (decay) to show that David's corpse rotted, making the psalm a promise that only Christ fulfilled. Wesley's Explanatory Notes observe that David's service was limited to his own generation, while Christ's resurrection extends to all generations. The Cambridge Bible emphasizes the contrast: David saw corruption, but the One God raised did not. Paul's logic is airtight: a historical fact (David's death and decay) rules out one interpretation of the psalm, leaving only the Messiah as the true subject. For readers today, this means the resurrection is not a late invention but the fulfillment of promises woven into Israel's Scriptures. The same God who preserved His Holy One from decay will raise all who belong to Christ.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul uses this psalm to prove that Jesus rose from the dead without experiencing bodily decay, and that David cannot be the subject because his body corrupted in the grave.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the Holy One | The Holy One in Psalm 16:10 refers ultimately to Christ, as applied by Peter and Paul. | Some traditions see David as a type; others see a direct prophecy. Both affirm that Paul's application to Christ is authoritative. |
| David's physical decay | David's body decayed in the grave as a matter of historical fact, confirmed by Scripture. | No significant debate; this is universally accepted. |
| Nature of Christ's resurrection body | Christ's body was raised before it underwent decay, demonstrating his victory over death. | Some discuss whether his glorified body was identical to his earthly body or transformed; all affirm he arose bodily and incorruptible. |
| Paul's hermeneutical method | Paul uses Psalm 16 to prove Jesus as the Messiah and to show the resurrection from the Old Testament. | Modern scholars differ on whether the psalm originally had messianic intent or is applied typologically. Both approaches respect the text as Scripture. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul is speaking in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, a Roman colony with a significant Jewish community. His sermon rehearses Israel's history from the exodus to King David, then announces that God has fulfilled His promise by raising up Jesus, a descendant of David (Acts 13:22-33). The quotation of Psalm 16:10 comes after a citation of Isaiah 55:3 (“I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David”) and Psalm 2:7 (“You are my Son”). Paul is constructing a chain of scriptural proofs for the resurrection.
David was buried in Jerusalem, and his tomb was well known in the first century (Acts 2:29). Jewish burial customs involved placing bodies in rock-cut tombs; after about a year, the bones were gathered into ossuaries. The phrase “was laid with his fathers” (Greek prosetethē pros tous pateras autou) echoes Old Testament formulas for death and burial (1 Kings 2:10), implying that David's body joined his ancestors in the family tomb and decayed over time. By contrast, Jesus' tomb was found empty on the third day, before the normal process of decomposition could begin.
The Cambridge Bible notes that Paul contrasts David's limited service with Christ's eternal reign: David served only his own generation, but Christ, by rising never to die again, is a Savior for all generations. This nuance enriches the argument, David's work was bounded by death; Christ's work overcomes it. The Jewish audience would have recognized the messianic hope embedded in Psalm 16, and Paul's application would have been striking: the resurrection they awaited had already occurred in Jesus.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variants for Acts 13:35-37. The manuscript tradition is stable. Some witnesses have slight differences in word order (e.g., “his Holy One” instead of “your Holy One” in v.35), but these do not affect the meaning. The key terms diaphthora (decay) and hosios (holy one) are consistent across manuscripts.
Reception History
This passage has been central to Christian resurrection apologetics since the apostolic age. Peter’s parallel use of Psalm 16:10 in Acts 2:27-31 established a pattern: the incorruption of Christ fulfills what could not be said of David. Early church fathers such as Irenaeus and Tertullian cited it to counter docetic and gnostic claims that Jesus only appeared to die. In Reformation-era commentaries, Calvin and Wesley saw it as a clear prediction of Christ’s victory over death. Throughout church history, it has been a key text for proving the resurrection from the Old Testament. In modern scholarship, it remains a touchstone for understanding early Christian biblical interpretation and the development of messianic prophecy.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Promise. Paul quotes Psalm 16:10, which promises that God will not let His Holy One see decay. This is a pledge of victory over death.
- The Contrast. David died, was buried, and decayed (v.36). But Jesus, whom God raised, never decayed (v.37). The contrast proves that David cannot be the Holy One of the psalm.
- The Application. Because Jesus rose, forgiveness of sins and justification are available to everyone who believes (vv.38-39). The resurrection is the foundation of our salvation.
Five-point outline
- Scripture cited. Paul quotes Psalm 16:10 as a divine promise (v.35).
- David's faithful service. He served God's purpose in his own generation (v.36a). This was a noble but temporary calling.
- David's death. He fell asleep, was buried, and saw corruption (v.36b). The fact is undeniable.
- Christ's resurrection. God raised Jesus, and He saw no decay (v.37). The promise is fulfilled.
- The gospel invitation. Therefore, through this risen man, forgiveness and justification are proclaimed (vv.38-39).
Illustration hooks
- A family heirloom: a sealed letter written by a great-grandfather that can only be opened by the rightful heir. David wrote the words, but only Jesus can fulfill them.
- A king's promise: a monarch declares that his son will never be defeated. The king himself dies, but the son lives on to claim the victory.
- A courtroom argument: a witness testifies about a key event, but the details fit one person only. The lawyer shows that the witness could not be speaking of himself, he must be describing someone else.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can we be sure Jesus really rose from the dead? This passage shows that the resurrection was predicted in the Old Testament and confirmed by the empty tomb.
- What does it mean to “serve my own generation”? David used his unique time and gifts for God's purposes. We can ask God how to serve the people around us right now.
- If Jesus' body didn't decay, will our bodies be raised in the same way? Christians have hope that because He rose, we too will be raised to new, incorruptible life.
Leading a Discussion
Paul uses an Old Testament psalm to prove that Jesus is the Messiah who conquered death. His argument invites us to trust in the resurrection and to consider how we serve God in our own time.
Discussion questions
- Read Acts 13:35-37. What is Paul's main point about David? What is his main point about Jesus?
- Why does Paul quote Psalm 16:10? How does this psalm help him prove the resurrection?
- How does the contrast between David and Jesus show that Jesus is the “Holy One” promised in the psalm?
- What does “served his own generation” mean? How can you apply this to your own life and calling?
- What difference does the resurrection make for our hope in the face of death? How does it shape how we live today?
- How could this passage help you explain the resurrection to a friend who is skeptical?
- In what ways does the resurrection guarantee forgiveness and justification (see vv.38-39)? How does this affect your confidence in your salvation?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 16:10 | For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption. |
| Psalms 49:9 | that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption. |
| Psalms 89:48 | What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah. |
| Luke 2:26 | It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. |
| John 3:36 | One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” |
| John 8:51 | Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.” |
| Acts 2:27 | because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay. |
| Acts 2:31 | he foreseeing this, spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that David's death, burial, and physical decay rule him out as the subject of this prophecy. Since the words describe someone who would not see corruption, they can only apply to Jesus Christ, in whom they are exactly fulfilled.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a sharp contrast: David served his own generation, died, was buried, and his body decayed. Since the psalm promises a deliverance from corruption that David did not experience, it cannot refer to him. The words must point to Christ, whom God raised without decay.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that the prophecy of not seeing corruption applies fully only to Christ, whose body never decayed in the grave. David and other believers do undergo bodily decay, but because of their union with Christ, that decay is not final—it leads to a glorious resurrection, so in hope they too shall not see corruption.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator emphasizes the contrast between David, who could only serve the people of his own generation before dying, and Christ, whose resurrection makes Him a Savior for every generation. David’s help was limited to his lifetime, but Christ offers forgiveness of sins to all who believe across every age.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw a sharp contrast between David and Christ. David served God's purpose, died, and his body decayed. But the one God raised from the dead saw no corruption, proving the resurrection belonged to him alone.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that Psalm 16:10 cannot refer to David, because David died, was buried, and his body decayed. The title "Holy One" is fully true only of Christ, who was raised from the grave before corruption could touch him, making this a clear proof of the Messiah's resurrection.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that Paul's declaration about justification is a genuinely new doctrine, not simply a restatement of Peter's call to repentance. The key contrast is absolute: the law could not justify from anything, but faith in Christ provides complete justification from all things. This is the first public proclamation of justification by faith alone.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes how Paul builds his sermon on a deliberate recital of Israel's history, showing that every event from the patriarchs through the judges and kings was God's patient preparation for sending Jesus as the promised Savior. Even the rejection of Christ by Jerusalem's rulers, Paul argues, fulfilled the very prophets they heard read every Sabbath.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the Greek verb translated "was laid" literally means "was added unto." He compares this to the same word used elsewhere when believers were added to the church, highlighting the sense of being joined or included.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley contrasts David's limited earthly service with the Messiah's eternal kingdom: David served God only within his own generation, but the Messiah's service extends to all ages. He then challenges readers to examine whether they are serving God's will now, and notes that "added to his fathers" implies the soul's immortality.