Verse 32: “We evangelize you; to the fathers the promise having been made.” Evangelize: The message of the promise of redemption.

To the fathers: This is emphasised in the text. This could refer to the patriarchs and their faithful response, or it can refer to previous generations who were looking for, and waiting for, the promise to be revealed. This promise has now become accessible to this group of people. There was an opportunity for that promise to become a reality in these people’s lives.

Verse 33: “For God, fulfilling this to their children, us, He raised Yeshua. As also in the Second Psalm it has been written: ‘My Son are you. I today have begotten you.’”

Fulfilling: This word for fulfilling has to do with ratifying it, bringing it into reality. To their children: He ties this promise back to that patriarchal hope – what the other generations were looking for, expecting, desiring.

Us: These people, like us, have an opportunity to take hold, by faith, of the good things of God. Second Psalm: Paul gives them truth and then he gives a Biblical support, from Psalm 2v7, for that truth.

My Son: Sonship is emphasised. Sons serve, and fulfil the objectives of their fathers. That is what Messiah does.

Begotten you: To give birth to. Yeshua eternally existed before He was conceived, by the Holy Spirit, in the womb of Mary. We associate a birth as the beginning, but we ought not to. A child was alive at conception, and throughout its time in the womb it existed. This “begetting’ speaks of a revealing or a releasing into the world of someone who already existed. On that day, in Bethlehem, God the Father revealed or released His Son, who had always existed, into the world.  

Verse 34: “He raised Him from the dead, no longer anymore to return into corruption. For thus He said, ‘I will give to You the faithful mercies of David.’”

He raised Him: God the Father raised Yeshua from the dead. From the dead: Resurrection has a very important implication for us. Resurrection is associated with victory as it denies or halts any elements of decay/corruption. Resurrection also speaks of a kingdom of purity, holiness, righteousness. All these things are in opposition to decay.

Corruption: Decay I will give to You the faithful mercies of David: A quote from Isaiah 55v3. God brought about a faithful outcome. Many times, David’s administration manifested kingdom truth.

Verse 35: “Also in another place it says, ‘I will not allow your Holy One to see corruption.’” In another place: A quote from Psalm 16v10.

I will not allow your Holy One to see corruption: This is the second time that we see this phrase (see 13v34), but this time we see the word ‘Holy’ inserted into the text. That which is holy is set apart by God for a purpose. We are being sanctified, made holy, by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are going to be transformed into instruments that reflect the glory of God and not reflect corruption.

Verse 36: “For David, in his own generation, he served the purpose of God. He was made to sleep, and was added to his fathers, and he saw corruption.”

He served: We are called to be servants of the will and purposes of God. Made to sleep: He died Was added to his fathers: Gathered to them He saw corruption: His body decayed.

Verse 37: “By means of the resurrection, the One who God raised, He did not see corruption.” God has raised: God the Father raised Yeshua from the dead. Yeshua was superior to David.

Verse 38: “Therefore let it be known to you, men and brothers, that on account of this One is proclaimed to you the forgiveness of sins.”

Known: Not just from the point of intellect, but to know it experientially. The forgiveness of sins: This is the good news. Through the work of Messiah, the shedding of His blood, He redeemed us from our sins. If we do not recognise our sinfulness and the problem of our sin, realising that it was the reason for Messiah dying on the cross to pay the penalty, then we have been taught an inadequate gospel.