Acts 2:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore he does not simply say, "about David," but "about the patriarch David." "That he both died and was buried." He does not yet say, "and he did not rise." But in another way he immediately expresses this too, saying, "and his tomb is with us to this day."

Thus, after saying that David both died and was buried, he does not say, "and he did not rise." Instead he says, "and his tomb is with us to this day." This is equivalent to saying, "and he did not rise." Then he does not pass directly to Christ, but again glorifies David. Through these praises of David, the aim of the discourse is achieved. This is said so that, because of the honor they showed David and because of his lineage, the Jews might accept the word about Christ's Resurrection. If this did not happen, that is, if they did not accept the word about the Resurrection, they would also show contempt for the prophecy and undermine the respect due to themselves.

The present illumination of the Spirit of God opened for Peter's speech a new source of power and proof in the prophecies.

Until then, these prophecies had been obscure and could not exercise such power over the minds of the Jews. Now they were intelligible to everyone who wished to know the truth.

The sign from heaven, which the Jews had so often and so vainly asked of Jesus, now appeared of itself from Him who had ascended into heaven. It testified where the Crucified One, whom they considered powerless, now dwelt.

The ability to speak in new and unknown tongues was an extraordinary gift among the miracles known from ancient and more recent times.

"Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ and set Him upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the Resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption."

"He could speak in this way in his own person. Jesus of Nazareth is his descendant according to the flesh, and the heir of the eternal throne in the house of Israel. Could such a word of David truly remain empty? Since it was not fulfilled in the person of David, behold, it was fulfilled in one of his descendants according to the flesh."

"Concerning the forefather," or patriarch, is a deeply reverent title. It may have been used here deliberately for the reason just mentioned.

"He died and was buried," as an ordinary man. After his death and burial nothing special or extraordinary happened to him. That is, it is implied that he did not rise from the dead; cf. Chrysostom and Theophylact. Therefore what he spoke in his own person was not fulfilled in him. He spoke of the righteous One who would not remain in the tomb.

"His tomb is with us to this day," that is, with the remains of his body, which underwent corruption like the bodies of all other men. David was buried in Jerusalem; Neh 3:16; Josephus, War 1.2.5; Antiquities 7.15.3; 13.8.4.

"Now he has proved what he needed. Yet even after this he still did not pass on to Christ, but again speaks in praise of David. He does this so that, at least out of respect for David and his lineage, they might receive the word about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, it would be as though the prophecy and their honor suffered harm"; Chrysostom, cf. Theophylact.

He took from it more than three thousand talents. With part of them he bought off Antiochus VII, as Josephus relates in his Antiquities; VII, 15; XIII, 8.

According to Blessed Jerome, David's tomb was well known to many even in his own time, in the year 420.

King David enjoyed great glory among the Hebrews. Therefore the Apostle first confines himself to stating the certainty of his death, without mentioning his corruption. According to a popular Jewish view, corruption did not touch some Old Testament righteous men.

As though hesitant to speak, the Apostle asks leave to set this forth openly, yet carefully, though also with a certain boldness.

"By showing greater honor to blessed David, he makes acceptable the thought that this prophecy was spoken of Christ. His whole speech is constructed in this spirit. Thus, after saying that David died and was buried, he did not say, 'and rose,' but, 'and his tomb is with us.' This is said so that the Jews, for the honor shown to David and for the sake of his lineage, might receive the word about the Resurrection of Christ."