A Psalm by David.
1Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
2Yahweh will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion.
Rule among your enemies.
3Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array.
Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth.
4Yahweh has sworn, and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
5The Lord is at your right hand.
He will crush kings in the day of his wrath.
6He will judge among the nations.
He will heap up dead bodies.
He will crush the ruler of the whole earth.
7He will drink of the brook on the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.
Acts 2:22-25 introduces Peter’s comparison.
| Old Testament passage | New Testament quotation or statement |
|---|---|
| “I have set the LORD continually before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Ps 16:8 NAS95) | “For David says of him, ‘I saw the LORD always in my presence; for he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.’” (Acts 2:25 NAS95) |
| “Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely.” (Ps 16:9 NAS95) | “Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover my flesh also will live in hope.” (Acts 2:26 NAS95) |
| “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will you allow your Holy One to undergo decay.” (Ps 16:10 NAS95) | “Because you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow your Holy One to undergo decay.” (Acts 2:27 NAS95) |
| “You will make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Ps 16:11 NAS95) | “You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” (Acts 2:28 NAS95) |
| Interlude by Peter | |
| David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David (1 Kgs 2:10), and Nehemiah repaired opposite the tombs of David (Neh 3:16). | Peter says that David both died and was buried, and that his tomb remained with them (Acts 2:29-30). |
| The LORD swore to David that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne (Ps 132:11; compare 2 Sam 7:12 and Ps 89:3). | God had sworn to seat one of David’s descendants on his throne (Acts 2:30). |
| David “looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ” (Acts 2:31 NAS95). | |
| Ps 16:9-10 repeats the promise that the faithful one’s flesh would dwell securely and that God would not abandon his soul to Sheol or allow the Holy One to undergo decay. | “He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh suffer decay.” (Acts 2:31 NAS95) |
| Jesus was raised, exalted to God’s right hand, and poured forth the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:32-34). | |
| “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” (Ps 110:1 NAS95) | Peter quotes the same promise in Acts 2:34-35 and concludes that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). |