Acts 2:31 Meaning and Explanation
“He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David foresaw and spoke of Christ's resurrection, affirming that death itself would not touch Him or hold Him.
The Context of Acts 2:31
Peter completes his argument by restating the Psalm 16 quotation as David's prophecy of Christ's resurrection.
What Does Acts 2:31 Mean?
Peter brings the argument to its point. David 'seeing this before' (prophetically, in the Spirit) spoke about the resurrection of Christ. He used language of the soul not being abandoned to hell and flesh not experiencing corruption. This is Peter's final reading of Psalm 16: it is prophecy of the resurrection. For a first-century Jewish audience, this was audacious. The rabbis did not typically expect a dying and rising Messiah. But Peter is claiming it is all there in their own Scripture, hidden in David's words.
For us, the verse shows that resurrection is not a Pauline invention or a late addition to the faith. It is woven into the oldest promises of God. When we proclaim that Jesus rose from the dead, we are not announcing something unprecedented or bizarre. We are announcing the fulfillment of what God swore in the mouth of a prophet.
How to Apply Acts 2:31 Today
When we read the Old Testament, we are reading a book that points forward. Not as if the text is hiding meanings unknown to its original writers, but as if God was working through history toward a climax we now see.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 2:31
What does Acts 2:31 mean?
David foresaw and spoke of Christ's resurrection, affirming that death itself would not touch Him or hold Him.
What is the context of Acts 2:31?
Peter completes his argument by restating the Psalm 16 quotation as David's prophecy of Christ's resurrection.
How can I apply Acts 2:31 today?
When we read the Old Testament, we are reading a book that points forward. Not as if the text is hiding meanings unknown to its original writers, but as if God was working through history toward a climax we now see.