Biblical Exegesis:Acts 2:30

This week let's consider Acts 2:30 which says:

 ³⁰Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (Acts 2:30, King James Version)

But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. (NIV)

I was inspired to write this post by the arguments of TheGodless on Twitter. He was trying to use the Bible to show that Mary was not a virgin when she conceived and gave birth to Jesus. He took this verse to mean that Jesus was a son of David in terms of what we mean today - genetically - and therefore Jesus had an earthly father and was born the same way as everyone else. I thought that it would be instructive to really look at the text and see if you can draw that meaning out.

Let's start with context. Who is speaking, to whom, and what is the speaker talking about? Peter is speaking. He and the other followers of Jesus (from 12 - 120 people) have all received the Holy Spirit and had began speaking in tongues. They had also just spent 40 days with the risen Christ and had seen him ascend into heaven.

Now consider the audience - hundreds of Jews from all over the empire in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and Pentecost feasts. They had just heard local Jews speaking and praising God in languages that they could not have known (tongues). They knew about Jesus' crucifixion and the empty tomb. Peter is attempting to explain all of this to them and in verse 30 he makes a direct statement that Jesus was a dcscendant of David just as they knew the Messiah had to be. Keep in mind that both Mary and Joseph were descended from King David and Jesus was truly human...he had Mary's genetic traits. God performed a miracle - a live human birth without the genetic material of a man.

Instead of just focusing on defending Jesus' virgin birth, lets look closer at the first Christian sermon following Jesus' assention. It's fascinating. You get to speak up as a Christian for the first time anyone outside of Jesus has given the full gospel...what do you say? See verses 14-41. Peter tells them that they are watching prophesy being fulfilled. The people speaking in tongues and declaring God's wonders in a miraculous way. So he started with building on the miracle God had already performed because God already had their intention. Then Peter reminded them what they had witnessed concerning Jesus and then Peter warns them no to miss out on this opportunity to be free of their sins! Not all of his listeners believe but at least 3000 of them do

14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'[c]

22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'[e]

29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,[f] that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." '[g]

36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.!