What Old Testament prophecies connect to the resurrection witness in Acts 1:22? Setting the Scene Acts 1:22 pinpoints the apostolic qualification: “One of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Those first disciples didn’t invent the resurrection theme; they stepped into a story God had already drafted in the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Here are the Old Testament passages they would naturally connect to their mandate. Key Resurrection Prophecies “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” – Peter cites this in Acts 2:25-32, arguing that David’s words exceed David’s own experience and point to Messiah’s bodily rising. “When His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days… After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied.” – Death is real (“guilt offering”), yet the Servant lives on to distribute the spoils. The apostles saw the empty tomb as the only way to read those lines literally. “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.” – A corporate promise that foreshadows Christ’s third-day victory and sets the pattern for His people. “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” – Paul connects this to the resurrection in Acts 13:33, treating the empty tomb as the moment the Father publicly declared the Son’s royal status. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” – Rejection (crucifixion) followed by divine reversal (resurrection). Peter quotes it in Acts 4:11. • Jonah 1:17 (typological prophecy) “Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.” – Jesus Himself labeled Jonah’s experience “the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Matthew 12:40), making the parallel explicit for the apostles. “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life…” – Guarantees a future bodily resurrection, giving the apostles a framework for Christ as “firstfruits” (1 Corinthians 15:20). “Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust!” – Reinforces the expectation that God’s victory must conquer the grave. How These Prophecies Frame Acts 1:22 1. The apostles aren’t launching a new idea; they are eyewitnesses to the fulfillment of promises God spoke centuries earlier. 2. Their preaching strategy (see Acts 2–4, 13) consistently ties Jesus’ resurrection back to these Scriptures. 3. Because the texts predict both suffering and vindication, they validate the cross-and-empty-tomb sequence that shocked first-century expectations. Why This Matters for Our Witness Today • Our message stands on the same foundation: Scripture promised, Christ fulfilled, eyewitnesses confirmed. • When we trace the promise-fulfillment thread, we show that believing the resurrection is not wishful thinking but faith in God’s revealed plan. • These prophecies remind us that God always keeps His word—therefore we can speak of Christ’s resurrection with confidence, clarity, and joy. |
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