Why he said also in another psalm, You shall not suffer your Holy One to see corruption.
in.
Acts 2:27-31 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption…
Psalm 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
to see.
Acts 13:36,37 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: …
Psalm 49:9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Psalm 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’
This prophecy is a direct quote from Psalm 16:10, which is understood to refer to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The term "Holy One" is a title that signifies someone set apart by God, and in this context, it is applied to Jesus, affirming His divine nature and mission. The phrase "see decay" refers to physical decomposition after death. In the historical context, David, who wrote the psalm, did experience decay after his death, but Jesus, as the fulfillment of this prophecy, did not, as He was resurrected on the third day. This serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' victory over death and His identity as the Messiah. The resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian faith, confirming Jesus' divine authority and the promise of eternal life for believers.
• Luke records Paul’s sermon to the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, showing how God’s prior words line up perfectly with the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 13:30-33).
• “So also” links what Paul just said about God raising Jesus from the dead with a fresh proof from Scripture, underscoring that every detail of the gospel rests on God’s established word (Isaiah 55:11; 2 Timothy 3:16).
• Paul treats the quoted words as the very speech of God, not merely David’s opinion. The Lord Himself “says,” making the promise unbreakable (Numbers 23:19).
• This divine authority is why Paul can preach with certainty that Jesus is alive and offers forgiveness today (Acts 13:38-39).
• The specific passage is Psalm 16:10, a psalm of David. Paul calls it “another” because he has already cited Psalm 2:7 (Acts 13:33) and Isaiah 55:3 (treated like a psalm in Jewish liturgy) in the same message.
• By switching psalms, Paul weaves a tapestry of Old Testament testimony, showing multiple witnesses to the same truth (Deuteronomy 19:15; Luke 24:27).
• The phrase highlights God’s active protection. The Father takes personal responsibility to keep His promise regarding the Messiah’s body (Psalm 121:4).
• This negative—“will not let”—implies a positive: God will intervene to reverse death’s normal outcome (Romans 6:9).
• “Holy One” is a Messianic title pointing to Jesus’ sinless character (Mark 1:24; Hebrews 7:26).
• David could not ultimately fit this description, because later verses note that David “fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw decay” (Acts 13:36).
• Applying the title to Jesus affirms both His deity (Isaiah 57:15) and His perfect obedience leading to the cross (Philippians 2:8-9).
• “Decay” refers to the natural corruption of a corpse. By promising that Jesus would never experience this, Scripture foretold His bodily resurrection on the third day (Matthew 28:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:4).
• Peter made the same point earlier at Pentecost (Acts 2:27, 31), stressing that our hope is anchored in a risen Savior whose body never decomposed.
• Because Jesus conquered death, believers receive the guarantee of future resurrection and incorruptible life (1 Peter 1:3-4; John 11:25-26).
Acts 13:35 shows Paul grounding the resurrection of Jesus in Psalm 16:10. By stressing God’s personal pledge (“You will not let”) toward His sinless Messiah (“Your Holy One”), the verse affirms that Jesus’ body never decayed but rose in power. This fulfillment confirms every promise of salvation, assuring us that the same God who kept His word to His Son will also keep His word to all who trust in Him.
(35) Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.--See Notes on the prophecy so cited in Acts 2:25-31.Verse 35. - Because for wherefore, A.V. and T.R.; thou wilt not give for thou shalt not suffer, A.V. (see Acts 2:27, note); thy for thine, A.V. It is remarkable that St. Peter and St. Paul should both quote this sixteenth psalm, and use precisely the same argument.