William Burkitt Notes and Observations - Acts 2:25 - 2:25

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William Burkitt Notes and Observations - Acts 2:25 - 2:25


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St. Peter here proceeds in this memorable sermon, which he preached at the feast of Pentecost, to convince the Jews, that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was undoubtedly the promised Messias, because he was raised from the grave according to the prophetical prediction, Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption Psa_16:10.

And accordingly St. Peter doth strongly prove that these words, in their literal sense, could not be spoken of David, because he was left in the grave, and saw corruption; but must be applied unto Christ, who though he was laid, yet was not lost in the grave, but saw no corruption, being raised by God the third day.

Hence note, That though death bound the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, and laid him in his grave, yet, Samson-like, he snapt and broke those bands asunder, it being impossible that he should be holden of them, or confined by them. It was impossible for Christ to continue death's prisoner in the grave longer than three days:

1. Because he was Lord of life and death, he was the resurrection and the life; life to quicken himself, and the resurrection to raise us; he was the resurrection effectively, the life essentially and formally.

Now it was impossible for death to hold him that was life itself under its power, any longer than he who is life pleased; and for this reason he is said to swallow up death in victory, 1Co_15:54.

2. Because of his undertaking for us; for if Christ had been held by corporal death, we must have continued for ever under the power of spiritual death; therefore the Holy one was not suffered to see corruption, the least corruption, according to the prophetical prediction, Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell Psa_16:10; that is, my dead body in the grave, (for David was left in that hell, from which Christ was raised, but the hell which David was in was not beyond the grave;) nor suffer thine Holy One to see corruption; that is, I shall neither see nor feel, nor lie under the power of corruption, but shall suddenly rise again, and then my Father will show me the path of life, and make me full of joy with his countenance; that is, after my resurrection, I shall lie for ever in glory in the presence of my Father, where I shall have fulness of joy, and rivers of pleasure for evermore.

The last part of St. Peter's sermon treats of Christ's ascension. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, &c. Act_2:33 intimating, That when the Lord Jesus Christ had finished his work upon earth, he was placed in the seat of the highest honour and authority, at the right hand of God in heaven.

To convince the Jews of the certainty hereof, St. Peter applies that promise, unto Christ, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool Psa_110:1; showing that these words are not applicable unto David; for David is not ascended into heaven in his own person, but his body remained in the sepulchre then amongst them; but Christ was ascended, and at the right hand of God exalted, and, pursuant to his promise, had now sent down the Holy Ghost in fiery cloven tongues, and divers languages, upon them.

Where note, The great and wonderful change in the state and condition of Christ, since his ascension into heaven: a little while since they called him the carpenter's son, this fellow, this deceiver; now he has obtained a more excellent name than angels. Then he had not a place to lay his head on; now he is exalted to be heir of all things. Here he sweats, there he sits; here he groaned, there he triumphs; never to groan, weep, or bleed more. His human nature is advanced to the highest honours, even to the object of adoration both to angels and men. This was the doctrinal part of St. Peter's sermon: it treated of the person, life, miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension, of the Lord Jesus, in a very close and convincing manner. His warm application of the whole now follows, Act_2:36.