How does Acts 13:30 connect with Old Testament prophecies about resurrection? The simple, stunning declaration (Acts 13:30) “But God raised Him from the dead.” Old Testament voices anticipating resurrection - Psalm 16:10 — “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” - Isaiah 53:10-11 — “After He has suffered, He will see the light of life and be satisfied.” - Hosea 6:2 — “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.” - Psalm 2:7 — “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” (Paul quotes this two verses later, v. 33, to prove the resurrection.) - Daniel 12:2 — “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake.” How the verse fulfills those prophecies • Acts 13:30 is God’s direct answer to Psalm 16:10—Jesus’ body never saw decay. • Isaiah 53 looked beyond the Servant’s suffering; Acts 13:30 records the moment that promise burst into history. • Hosea 6:2’s “third day” language is mirrored in the gospel accounts; Paul’s sermon assumes his listeners know the timeline. • By citing Psalm 2 in the same message, Paul ties the resurrection (“today”) to God openly declaring Jesus as the eternal Son—an enthronement Psalm realized through an empty tomb. • Daniel 12:2 assures a final resurrection; Acts 13:30 provides the firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:20). God has already begun what Daniel foresaw. Why this matters for faith today - God’s track record: every promise about Messiah’s rising has landed exactly as written—encouraging trust in every remaining promise. - The risen Christ is proof that sin’s penalty is fully paid (Romans 4:25). - Because Jesus lives, believers share His future resurrection (John 14:19). Key takeaway Acts 13:30 is not an isolated miracle; it is the precise fulfillment of a chorus of Old Testament prophecies, confirming that every word God speaks is dependable—yesterday, today, and forever. |