Reading the book of Acts, we are struck with the emphasis on Jesus as the exalted and resurrected Lord. Luke often includes accounts that scripturally and historically emphasize Jesus’ resurrection.7 Jesus could not be the Messiah and Lord and the one through whom people receive forgiveness of sins if he remained in the grave. Luke speaks of “many proofs” (tekmēria) relative to Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:3). Both Peter and Paul argued that Ps. 16 was not fulfilled in David’s life, and hence the words recorded fit only with Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2:24–31; 13:35–37).
David decomposed in the grave, and therefore the words of Ps. 16 must point to another, one who conquered death and whose tomb was empty. The Scriptures themselves point to Christ’s death and his resurrection (Acts 13:31–33; 26:22–23). Whereas the Pharisees are the primary opponents in Luke, the Sadducees come to the forefront in Acts, particularly because the apostles preached the resurrection (Acts 4:1–2; cf. 5:17). The Sadducees, of course, rejected the notion of the resurrection (Matt. 22:23; Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27; Acts 23:8).
Schreiner, T. R. (2008). New Testament theology: magnifying God in Christ (p. 291). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
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