Acts 13:35
Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "see corruption" wasn't just about a body decaying in a grave; it carried a deeper meaning of being utterly overthrown or destroyed, a fate that God's perfect "Holy One" would not experience. This highlights that Jesus' resurrection wasn't just a reversal of death, but a decisive victory over ultimate ruin.
Paul is explaining why David, in the Psalms, prophesied about the resurrection of the Messiah. He's arguing that the promises made in the Psalms about God preserving His "Holy One" from decay couldn't have been about David himself, who died and saw corruption. Therefore, these divine words must point to someone greater, specifically Jesus, who was raised from the dead and did not experience permanent corruption in the grave.
This verse quotes Psalm 16, a song David wrote. But was he just talking about himself? Paul says, 'hold on a minute!'
Paul is arguing that these words from Psalm 16, 'You will not let your Holy One see corruption,' cannot possibly refer to King David himself.
The original Hebrew word for 'corruption' here has layers of meaning. What did it signify for David, and more importantly, for Jesus?
The word translated as 'corruption' in this psalm and in Acts carries a powerful sense of decay and ruin. It’s not just about a body decomposing, but about the utter disintegration and permanent state of death.
Understand the original words
hosion · Greek Adjective
A title emphasizing the sinless character, divine setting apart, and purity of the Messiah. It denotes one who is entirely consecrated to God and untainted by the effects of sin or death.
The Apostle Paul uses Psalm 16:10 to powerfully argue that the prophecy could only refer to Jesus. David, a beloved king, still died and saw corruption in the grave, but Jesus, God's Holy One, did not remain in death. This timeline shows how a prophecy from King David's time, understood through the lens of Israel's history and eventually Jesus' resurrection, becomes a cornerstone of early Christian proclamation.
c. 1040 BC
David Anointed King
David, a shepherd boy, is anointed king of Israel, beginning his reign and his significant prophetic utterances, including those in the Psalms.
c. 1000 BC
David's Reign and Psalms
During his kingship, David pens many Psalms, some of which contain messianic prophecies, including Psalm 16.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians, the Temple is destroyed, and many Israelites are exiled. This event highlights the consequences of sin and God's judgment.
c. 30 AD
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is crucified, dies, and is buried.
This is the direct source of the quote, establishing the original context where David, inspired by the Spirit, speaks prophetically about the Messiah's resurrection.
Acts 2:24Peter uses this same psalm and verse in his Pentecost sermon, making the same argument that it points to Jesus' resurrection and not David's.
Isaiah 53:10This passage from Isaiah speaks of the suffering servant's 'offspring' and that the 'desire of the Lord shall prosper in his hand,' echoing the idea of the Messiah's vindication after suffering.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4Paul lays out the core message of the Gospel, including Christ's death for our sins and his resurrection on the third day, which is the very event this psalm anticipates.
Romans 1:4This verse explicitly states Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power by his resurrection from the dead, directly linking the resurrection to His divine identity.
gillActs 13:35: "Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Wherefore he saith also in another psalm,.... Psalm 16:10 or "in another place", as the Syriac version supplies; or "in another section", as the Arabic version; or "elsewhere", as Beza's most ancient copy, the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, read: thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption; which cannot be understood of David: the term "Holy One", is not so applicable…
meyerActs 13:35: "Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Acts 13:35 . Διό ] therefore , namely, because the Messiah, according to Acts 13:34 , after His resurrection will not again die, but live for ever. ἐν ἑτέρῳ ] sc . ψαλμῷ , which is still present to the mind of the speaker from the quotation in Acts 13:33 . λέγει ] the subject is necessarily that of εἴρηκεν , Acts 13:34 , and so neither David (Bengel, Heinrichs, and others) nor the Scr…
The phrase "see corruption" wasn't just about a body decaying in a grave; it carried a deeper meaning of being utterly overthrown or destroyed, a fate that God's perfect "Holy One" would not experience. This highlights that Jesus' resurrection wasn't just a reversal of death, but a decisive victory over ultimate ruin.
Paul is explaining why David, in the Psalms, prophesied about the resurrection of the Messiah. He's arguing that the promises made in the Psalms about God preserving His "Holy One" from decay couldn't have been about David himself, who died and saw corruption. Therefore, these divine words must point to someone greater, specifically Jesus, who was raised from the dead and did not experience permanent corruption in the grave.
Paul is explaining why David, in the Psalms, prophesied about the resurrection of the Messiah. He's arguing that the promises made in the Psalms about God preserving His "Holy One" from decay couldn't have been about David himself, who died and saw corruption. Therefore, these divine words must point to someone greater, specifically Jesus, who was raised from the dead and did not experience permanent corruption in the grave.
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c. 30 AD— this verse
Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is raised from the dead on the third day.
c. 47-49 AD
Paul's First Missionary Journey
The Apostle Paul, along with Barnabas, travels to Pisidian Antioch and preaches the Gospel, explaining how Jesus' resurrection fulfills Old Testament prophecy.
"Therefore he says also in another psalm,
“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’" — The phrase "see corruption" wasn't just about a body decaying in a grave; it carried a deeper meaning of being utterly overthrown or destroyed, a fate that God's perfect "Holy One" would not experien…