Peter Responds, Part 4
Acts 2:25-28.
“For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
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.’”
Dear Family,
Peter refers the crowd to the prophecy of David in the Psalms (Psalm 16:8-11). This strengthens Peter’s claim that Jesus was “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (v. 23).
Position (v. 25).
David, speaking in the assumed position of Jesus, declared that he would always be in God’s favor. The right hand would be a place of availability and favor so that Jesus would always be assured of God’s listening ear. Any situation that removed Jesus from this position would therefore be temporary.
Promise (v. 26-27).
The resurrection was to have been expected, because David had prophesied that the soul of God’s “Holy One” would not be abandoned in Hades – the place of the dead, and his body would not be permitted to decay.
Presence (v. 28).
Jesus would perpetually be in the presence of God. Earlier, he had ascended into heaven (1:9). The image of Jesus seated “at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19) was clear in the minds of his followers. It was Stephen’s dying vision (7:55-56), so a living Jesus, ever in the presence of the Father is most natural for the believers. What image of Jesus lingers in your mind and what does it say of your faith? We would do well to examine our thoughts. They are a reflection of what we hold dear.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.