Acts 13:33

Acts 13:33

God had fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

1.  “God had fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again…”

a.    Interlinear Greek Text, George Ricker Berry PH.D; Stephens, 1550, edition of Elzevir, 1624, Textus Receptus. Acts 13:32, 33 “And we to you announce the glad tidings the, to the fathers promise made, that this God has fulfilled children to us, having raised up Jesus;

As also in the psalm second it has been written, Son my thou art, I today have begotten thee.”

b.    The background of this verse is Paul was preaching in the synagogue at Pisidia Antioch, to Jews and God-fearing [D.C: Theophobic] Gentiles.  

c.     This verse is not referring to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but rather his appearance in history. The word “again” in not in the Greek text the King James Version is translated from, even though it is not in italics. (Most if not all translations of the Bible always put in italics words that are not in the text itself, but are necessary because the context requires it.)

d.    Arthur W. Pink (Calvinist), An Exposistion of Hebrews, “There the Apostle declared to the Jews that God had fulfilled the promise made unto the fathers, namely, that he had “raised up Jesus,” i.e. had sent the Messiah unto them. Acts 13:33 has no reference to Christ’s resurrection, but relates to his incarnation and manifestation to Israel…It was not until Acts 13:34, 35 that the apostle brought in his resurrection…Thus in Acts 13, Psalm 2 is cited to prove the Father had sent the Savior to Israel and His promise so to do had been fulfilled in the Divine incarnation.”

e.     Other examples of this terminology used in the Scriptures.

1). Deuteronomy 18:18 “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”

2). Acts 13:23 “Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.”

f.      In verses 34 and 35 Paul does touch on the resurrection.

1). Acts 13:34, 35 “And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

2. “…as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

a. What this means is that the quotation of Psalm 2:7 is a citing of Scriptural proof that Jesus is the fulfillment of that prophecy and that is is not speaking of his being raised from the dead but being raised up in fulfillment of the promise that the Messiah would come. Acts 13:34, 35 do speak of his physical resurrection from the dead, Acts 13:33 does not.