For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes that God wouldn't abandon Jesus' soul to the realm of the dead, nor would He let His "Holy One" experience decay. This isn't just about avoiding the grave, but about the divine assurance that Jesus' very being would be preserved from permanent separation from God and from physical corruption. It speaks to a profound divine commitment to the resurrection, preserving the purity and integrity of the Messiah Himself.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is quoting Psalm 16:10, arguing that these ancient words, originally spoken by David, were not about David himself but a prophecy about the Messiah. He's building his case for Jesus' resurrection, showing how this Psalm predicted that the Messiah's soul wouldn't be left in the realm of the dead, nor would his body experience decay. This sets the stage for his bold declaration that Jesus has indeed been raised.
When Peter quotes Psalm 16 here, he uses the word 'Hades.' What did that mean to ancient ears, and how does it differ from our modern idea of 'hell'?
The word "Hades" in this verse (from the Greek haidēs and Hebrew Sheol) doesn't simply mean the grave where a body is buried.
The Realm of the Dead
Peter's use here highlights that Jesus' death was real, and His spirit entered this realm, but it wasn't a permanent state for Him.
This passage calls Jesus 'Your Holy One.' What makes this title significant, especially when linked to 'corruption'?
The verse promises that God would not 'suffer Your Holy One to see corruption.' This speaks volumes about Jesus' unique nature and destiny.
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Purity and Preservation
This wasn't just a promise of resurrection; it was a declaration that the very body of the sinless Son of God was protected from the natural consequences of death.
Understand the original words
hadēs · Greek Noun
In this context, the realm of the dead or the grave. In Greek thought, it is the underworld; in Hebrew thought, it is Sheol, the place where the souls of the departed reside.
hosios · Greek Adjective/Noun
One who is set apart for God's exclusive service and possesses divine purity. In the New Testament, this term is specifically applied to Jesus Christ, denoting His absolute holiness and divine status.
diaphthora · Greek Noun
The decay or decomposition of the body after death. Used here to contrast the normal physical experience of mortality with the resurrection of the Messiah.
hodos · Greek Noun
Referring to the courses, ways, or manner of living that lead to eternal life. It highlights the divine guidance that directs the faithful toward fellowship with God.
prosōpon · Greek Noun
The face or immediate presence of God. It signifies personal communion, intimacy, and the joy found in being directly in God's manifest presence.
Peter's powerful sermon uses Psalm 16, originally a personal expression of trust by King David, to point directly to Jesus Christ's unique victory over death and the grave, highlighting Jesus as the promised Messiah.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom at its Height
King David rules a united Israel, establishing Jerusalem as the capital and composing many Psalms expressing his faith, struggles, and hopes.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Temple Construction Begins
King Solomon, David's son, begins construction of the magnificent First Temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship and national identity.
c. 700-600 BC— this verse
Psalm 16 Composed
The foundational text of Acts 2:27, Psalm 16, is written, likely during a period of national questioning or under threat, expressing deep trust in God's guidance and protection.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces conquer Jerusalem, destroy the First Temple, and exile many Israelites, leading to a profound crisis of faith and national identity.
c. 500 BC - 1st Century BC
Exilic and Post-Exilic Period
The Jewish people live in exile or return to rebuild, grappling with their identity and relationship with God, during which the Hebrew Scriptures are compiled and interpreted.
c. 250 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek by Jewish scholars in Alexandria, Egypt, making texts like Psalm 16 accessible to a wider Hellenistic audience.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified and, according to Christian belief, resurrected on the third day, a pivotal event central to New Testament theology.
This is the direct Old Testament passage Peter is quoting and interpreting in Acts 2. It speaks of God preserving His 'Holy One' from the 'pit' and not letting Him see 'corruption,' which Peter applies to Jesus' resurrection.
Acts 13:35Paul also quotes Psalm 16:10 here, echoing Peter's interpretation that 'He whom God raised from the dead did not see corruption.' This reinforces the understanding of 'not seeing corruption' as referring to resurrection from the grave.
Romans 8:11This verse speaks of God 'giving life to your mortal bodies' through His Spirit living in us. It parallels the idea in Acts 2:27 that God's power will overcome the physical reality of death and decay for His 'Holy One,' and by extension, for believers.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44Paul discusses the resurrection body, stating it is 'raised imperishable' and 'sown in corruption, raised in incorruption.' This directly connects to the concept in Acts 2:27 of overcoming corruption through resurrection.
Hebrews 7:23-27This passage highlights Jesus' eternal priesthood and His perfect, sinless nature, explaining why He would not be subject to the corruption of death in the same way human priests and sacrifices were. It underscores His unique status as 'the Holy One' who would not see decay.
barnesActs 2:27: "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Thou wilt not leave my soul - The word "soul," with us, means "the thinking, the immortal part of man," and is applied to it whether existing in connection with the body or separate from it. The Hebrew word translated "soul" here, נפשׁ nephesh, however, may mean "spirit, mind, life," and may denote here nothing more than "me" or "myself." It means, properly, "breath"; then "life…
meyerActs 2:27: "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
Acts 2:27 . What now the Psalmist further says according to the historical sense: For Thou wilt not leave my soul to Hades ( i.e. Thou wilt not suffer me to die in my present life-peril), and wilt not give Thy Holy One (according to the Ketîbh of the original: Thy holy ones , the plural of category, comp. Hupfeld in loc. ) to see corruption —is by Peter, as spoken εἰς Χριστόν , t…
The text emphasizes that God wouldn't abandon Jesus' soul to the realm of the dead, nor would He let His "Holy One" experience decay. This isn't just about avoiding the grave, but about the divine assurance that Jesus' very being would be preserved from permanent separation from God and from physical corruption. It speaks to a profound divine commitment to the resurrection, preserving the purity and integrity of the Messiah Himself.
Peter is quoting Psalm 16:10, arguing that these ancient words, originally spoken by David, were not about David himself but a prophecy about the Messiah. He's building his case for Jesus' resurrection, showing how this Psalm predicted that the Messiah's soul wouldn't be left in the realm of the dead, nor would his body experience decay. This sets the stage for his bold declaration that Jesus has indeed been raised.
Peter is quoting Psalm 16:10, arguing that these ancient words, originally spoken by David, were not about David himself but a prophecy about the Messiah. He's building his case for Jesus' resurrection, showing how this Psalm predicted that the Messiah's soul wouldn't be left in the realm of the dead, nor would his body experience decay. This sets the stage for his bold declaration that Jesus has indeed been raised.
"For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’" — The text emphasizes that God wouldn't abandon Jesus' soul to the realm of the dead, nor would He let His "Holy One" experience decay. This isn't just about avoiding the grave, but about the divine…
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Last reviewed October 2026