Let’s read Acts 2:34-35, “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” (NKJV). These words were preached by Peter to his Jewish brethren on the Day of Pentecost to convince them that Jesus Christ was Lord and that after He was resurrected from the dead He also ascended to the right hand of God. Peter, as led of the Holy Spirit, quotes from the words of King David to prove these points. His message is covered in verses 22-36, which we will now look at.

Verses 23-32: “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to DEATH; whom God RAISED UP, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For DAVID SAYS CONCERNING HIM: ‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. There, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raised up the Christ to sit on His throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hade, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God was raised up, of which we are all witnesses.”

In this passage the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Christ are before us. Peter skillfully quotes the words of David from Psalm 16:8-11 to show that David prophesied of the resurrection of Christ. Some thought David was speaking of himself, but it is clear that David was “both dead and buried” and thus he was speaking of one of his descendants. God had promised David before he died that he would eventually have a son who would rule on the throne (see 2nd Samuel 7:12-13) and David was inspired to write of Jesus Christ who would fulfill that promise. So, when we read “David says CONCERNING HIM,” David is actually quoting (prophetically) the very words of Jesus Christ! Jesus knew that God would “not leave His soul in Hades” (in a disembodied state), nor would God “allow His Holy One to see corruption” (in the tomb). After Jesus had been in the tomb 3 days God fulfilled these words by raising Him from the dead.

Verses 33-36: “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but HE SAYS HIMSELF: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

In these verses the ASCENSION OF CHRIST is before us and once again Peter uses the words of David to prove to his brethren that Jesus Christ was sitting at the right hand of God. In Psalm 110:1 David was inspired to write, as a prophet, of Jesus Christ. He did NOT write of himself, for again David is DEAD AND BURIED and thus he did “not ascend into the heavens.”  But it was revealed to David that his greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, was told by God the Father to “sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” One has rightly said that “verse 36 is the high point of Peter’s sermon,” for in the ascension of Jesus He was “made both Lord and Christ.” Man had given Jesus the lowest place by having Him crucified; God had given Him the highest place by exalting Him “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21).  (381.3)  (DO)