Acts 2:29

Study note

Setting — Peter addresses a Jewish crowd in Jerusalem during the Pentecost gathering, immediately after quoting Psalm 16 and before explaining its messianic fulfillment. He speaks to identify David’s physical death as a historical fact preceding his prophetic words.

The words — The Greek phrase ἐξὸν εἰπεῖν μετὰ παρρησίας πρὸς ὑμᾶς (exon eipein meta parrēsias pros hymas) literally translates to "it is permitted to speak with freedom to you." Peter uses this phrasing to assert his authorized, unreserved declaration before the assembly.

The thread — Peter grounds his argument in the historical reality of David’s burial, a fact confirmed in 1 Kings 2:10 and reiterated in Acts 13:36. The reference to David’s tomb establishes a chronological baseline for the resurrection claim that follows.

Why it lands — The verse requires the listener to acknowledge David’s mortality as an indisputable fact before accepting the subsequent claim that his descendant did not remain in the grave. It demands historical verification as the foundation for theological assertion.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.