God’s Word Translation
Acts 2:31
31David knew that the Messiah would come back to life, and he spoke about that before it ever happened. He said that the Messiah wouldn’t be left in the grave and that his body wouldn’t decay.
Acts 2:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
- New International Version (NIV)Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.
- English Standard Version (ESV)he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
- New King James Version (NKJV)he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.
Context of Acts 2:31
29“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that our ancestor David died and was buried and that his tomb is here to this day. 30David was a prophet and knew that God had promised with an oath that he would place one of David’s descendants on his throne. David knew that the Messiah would come back to life, and he spoke about that before it ever happened. He said that the Messiah wouldn’t be left in the grave and that his body wouldn’t decay. 32“God brought this man Jesus back to life. We are all witnesses to that. 33God the Father used his power to give Jesus the honored position—the one next to him on the heavenly throne. Jesus has also received and has poured out the Holy Spirit as the Father had promised, and this is what you’re seeing and hearing.
Read all of Acts 2Acts 2:31 word by word
προϊδὼν ἐλάλησεν περὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὅτι οὔτε ἐγκατελείφθη εἰς ᾅδην οὔτε ἡ σὰρξ αὐτοῦ εἶδεν διαφθοράν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- He seeing thisπροοράωprooraō · to foreseeG4308
- before spakeλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
- the resurrectionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the resurrectionἀνάστασιςanastasis · resurrectionG386
- of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- soulψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
- wasκαταλείπωkataleipō · to leave behindG2641
- notοὐou · noG3756
- inεἰςeis · towardG1519
- hellᾍδηςhadēs · hell: HadesG86
- neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
- fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- did seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- corruptionδιαφθοράdiaphthora · decayG1312
Cross-references for Acts 2:31
- 1 Peter 1:11So they tried to find out what time or situation the Spirit of Christ kept referring to whenever he predicted Christ’s sufferings and the glory that would follow.
- Acts 2:27because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay.
- Acts 13:35Another psalm says, ‘You will not allow your holy one to decay.’
- Psalms 16:10because you do not abandon my soul to the grave or allow your holy one to decay.
Commentaries on Acts 2:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31That his soul was not left in hell - The words ̔ , his soul, are omitted by ABCD, Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, and Vulgate. Griesbach has left them out of the text, and Professor White says again, certissime delenda. The passage may be thus read: "He spake of the resurrection of Christ, that he was not left in hades, neither did his flesh see corruption." For the various readings in this and the preceding verse, see Griesbach.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31He, seeing this before - By the spirit of prophecy. From this it appears that David had distinct views of the great doctrines pertaining to the Messiah. Spake - See Psalm 16:1-11. That his soul - See the notes on Acts 2:27.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-36Verses 22-36 From this gift of the Holy Ghost, Peter preaches unto them Jesus: and here is the history of Christ. Here is an account of his death and sufferings, which they witnessed but a few weeks before. His death is considered as God's act; and of wonderful grace and wisdom. Thus Divine justice must be satisfied, God and man brought together again, and Christ himself glorified, according to an eternal counsel, which could not be altered. And as the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-36This is the first of about 30 speeches in Acts and one of the most important. It marks the beginning of the Christian church. It is a typical example of the preaching of the apostles. The apostles proclaimed: that the Old Testament promises came true in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the promised Messiah; that the apostles were eyewitnesses of the public ministry of Jesus and were his chosen representatives; that people must turn away…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 29-3629-36. David ... is ... dead and buried, &c.--Peter, full of the Holy Ghost, sees in this sixteenth Psalm, one Holy Man, whose life of high devotedness and lofty spirituality is crowned with the assurance, that though He taste of death, He shall rise again without seeing corruption, and be admitted to the bliss of God's immediate presence. Now as this was palpably untrue of David, it could be meant only of One other, even of Him whom David was taught to…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 2:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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