Acts 2:27
What does Acts 2:27 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 2:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 2:27 means
This crucial verse from David's psalm is the linchpin of Peter's argument for Jesus' resurrection. The promise, 'thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption,' predicts a triumph over death and decay. Peter will demonstrate that while David himself experienced death and corruption, these words could only truly apply to the Messiah, God's 'Holy One'—Jesus—who experienced no corruption because He was raised.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For you will not let my soul be in hell and you will not give up your Holy One to destruction.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because Thou wilt not leave my soul to hades, nor wilt Thou give Thy Kind One to see corruption;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for thou wilt not leave my soul in hades, nor wilt thou give thy gracious one to see corruption.
Context
This verse, continuing David's prophecy, presents the central argument for Jesus' resurrection: the promise that God's Holy One would not be abandoned to Hades nor experience corruption. This pivotal statement directly anticipates Peter's interpretation in the following verses, where he shows that these words could not refer to David himself, but only to the resurrected Christ.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 2:20
And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
- Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.
- Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:
- Revelation 1:18
and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
- Acts 4:27
for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,
- Acts 2:31
he foreseeing this spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
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