Acts 13:37
But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
Original Language Analysis
ὃν
he whom
G3739
ὃν
he whom
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
1 of 8
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 8
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεὸς
God
G2316
θεὸς
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
4 of 8
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
ἤγειρεν
raised again
G1453
ἤγειρεν
raised again
Strong's:
G1453
Word #:
5 of 8
to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from
Historical Context
Paul preached this in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch (c. AD 47-48) during his first missionary journey. His careful exegesis of Psalm 16:10 reflects rabbinic interpretive methods, arguing from Scripture to prove Jesus is the promised Messiah. The synagogue audience would have known David's tomb in Jerusalem and understood Paul's logic.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the physical resurrection of Jesus (no bodily corruption) serve as proof of His deity and vindication?
- Why was the argument from David's decayed body versus Christ's incorruptible body so persuasive to first-century Jews?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption (διαφθοράν, diaphthoran)—Paul's climactic contrast in his synagogue sermon. While David saw corruption (13:36), Jesus did not. The Greek diaphthora means decay, dissolution, the biological decomposition every human body undergoes.
This resurrection proof was central to apostolic preaching (Acts 2:27-31). Peter used the same Psalm 16:10 argument at Pentecost: David's tomb was with us unto this day (2:29), but Christ's tomb was empty. Paul reasons: David died, was buried, and his body decayed—therefore Psalm 16 must speak of David's greater Son. The incorruptible resurrection body proves Jesus is the Holy One of God, vindicating His messianic claims and securing our justification (Romans 4:25).