What is the meaning of Acts 2:32? God has raised • The resurrection is God’s own act. “But God raised Him from the dead” (Acts 2:24) underscores that the Father’s power, not human effort, overturned death. • This fulfills prophecy: “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay” (Psalm 16:10), a promise Peter had just explained (Acts 2:25-31). • The same power is available to believers: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11). • God’s action validates all Jesus said about Himself (John 2:19-22) and displays “the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19-20). this Jesus • Peter points to the historical Jesus of Nazareth, “a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs” (Acts 2:22). • The name “Jesus” anchors the claim in real time and space—the same Jesus they had seen, heard, and rejected (Acts 3:13-15). • By specifying “this Jesus,” Peter connects the risen Lord with the crucified one: “Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). • The identity of Jesus is non-negotiable; He is the promised Messiah, foretold in Isaiah 53:10-12 and confirmed by the empty tomb (Luke 24:19-27). to life • Resurrection means bodily life, not mere spiritual survival. “He was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). • Death is defeated: “Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer has dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9). • His new life guarantees ours: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). • He is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22), assuring a future resurrection for all who trust Him (1 Peter 1:3). to which we are all witnesses • Peter and the other apostles stand as firsthand observers: “to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead” (Acts 10:41). • More than 500 others saw Him alive (1 Corinthians 15:5-7), giving multiple corroborating testimonies. • Their eyewitness message is the foundation of the church: “You will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). • The apostles proclaim what they have “seen and heard” (1 John 1:1-3), inviting listeners to trust a historically verified event, not a private vision or myth (2 Peter 1:16). summary Acts 2:32 proclaims that God Himself raised the crucified Jesus bodily from the dead, fulfilling Scripture and demonstrating His sovereign power. The same Jesus who walked among His people now lives forever, guaranteeing life to all who believe. Eyewitnesses—apostles and many others—confirm the fact, making the resurrection a solid cornerstone for faith and hope. |
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