Acts 2:34
New International Version
For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “’The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand

New Living Translation
For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand

English Standard Version
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,

Berean Standard Bible
For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand

Berean Literal Bible
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand,

King James Bible
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

New King James Version
“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,

New American Standard Bible
For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

NASB 1995
“For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

NASB 1977
“For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

Legacy Standard Bible
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

Amplified Bible
For David did not ascend into the heavens, yet he himself says, ‘THE LORD [the Father] SAID TO MY LORD [the Son], “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

Christian Standard Bible
For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, Sit at My right hand

American Standard Version
For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Contemporary English Version
David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side,

English Revised Version
For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David didn't go up to heaven, but he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Take my highest position of power

Good News Translation
For it was not David who went up into heaven; rather he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit here at my right side

International Standard Version
After all, David did not go up to heaven, but he said, 'The Lord told my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,

Majority Standard Bible
For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ?The Lord said to my Lord, ?Sit at My right hand

NET Bible
For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, 'The Lord said to my lord, "Sit at my right hand

New Heart English Bible
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit by my right hand,

Webster's Bible Translation
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he saith himself, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Weymouth New Testament
For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand

World English Bible
For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for David did not go up into the heavens, and he says himself: The LORD says to my Lord, "" Sit at My right hand,

Berean Literal Bible
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand,

Young's Literal Translation
for David did not go up to the heavens, and he saith himself: The Lord saith to my lord, Sit thou at my right hand,

Smith's Literal Translation
For David ascended not into the heavens: and he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit from my right hand,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said: The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand,

Catholic Public Domain Version
For David did not ascend into heaven. But he himself said: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand,

New American Bible
For David did not go up into heaven, but he himself said: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand

New Revised Standard Version
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For David did not ascend into heaven, because he himself said, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For David had not ascended to Heaven, because he said, “THE LORD JEHOVAH said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand',
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For David has not ascended into the heavens; but he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,

Godbey New Testament
For David hath not ascended into the heavens, but he says, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Haweis New Testament
For David is not ascended into the heavens: for he saith himself, ?The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit on my right hand,

Mace New Testament
for David is not ascended to heaven: yet he saith himself, "the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand,

Weymouth New Testament
For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand

Worrell New Testament
For David did not ascend into Heaven; but he himself says, 'The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand,

Worsley New Testament
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he himself says, "The Lord said to my Lord,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Peter Preaches to the Crowd
33Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand 35until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’…

Cross References
Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Matthew 22:44
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’

Mark 12:36
Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’

Luke 20:42-43
For David himself says in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand / until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

Hebrews 1:13
Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?

1 Corinthians 15:25
For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

Ephesians 1:20-22
which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, / far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. / And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,

Colossians 3:1
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Hebrews 10:12-13
But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. / Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet,

1 Peter 3:22
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Revelation 3:21
To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Psalm 8:6
You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet:

Psalm 2:7-8
I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. / Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.

Psalm 16:10-11
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. / You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Psalm 68:18
You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.


Treasury of Scripture

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit you on my right hand,

The Lord.

Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Matthew 22:42-45
Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David…

Mark 12:36
For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

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Acts 2
1. The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking various languages,
12. are admired by some, and derided by others;
14. whom Peter disproves;
37. he baptizes a great number who were converted;
41. who afterwards devoutly and charitably converse together;
43. the apostles working many miracles,
46. and God daily increasing his church.














For David did not ascend into heaven
This phrase emphasizes that King David, despite his significant role in Israel's history, did not physically ascend to heaven. In the context of Acts 2, Peter is addressing the crowd at Pentecost, clarifying that David's prophetic words in the Psalms were not about himself but about the Messiah. This distinction is crucial because it underscores the belief in Jesus' unique resurrection and ascension, setting Him apart from all other figures in Jewish history. Theologically, this points to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in the New Testament, affirming Jesus' divine nature and His role as the promised Messiah.

but he himself says:
Here, Peter is quoting David to support his argument. This phrase indicates that David, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, spoke words that were prophetic and not merely personal reflections. It highlights the belief in the divine inspiration of Scripture, where human authors were guided by God to convey truths that often extended beyond their immediate understanding or experience. This also reflects the Jewish tradition of interpreting the Psalms as containing messianic prophecies.

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
This is a direct quotation from Psalm 110:1, a psalm attributed to David. In this context, "The Lord" refers to Yahweh, the covenant name of God, while "my Lord" refers to the Messiah. This verse is significant because it shows a conversation between God and the Messiah, indicating the Messiah's divine authority and pre-existence. The use of "my Lord" by David suggests a recognition of the Messiah's superiority, which is a key point in Peter's argument that Jesus is the Messiah. This verse is frequently cited in the New Testament to affirm Jesus' divine status and His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

“Sit at My right hand
Sitting at the right hand of God is a position of honor, authority, and power. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the right hand was considered a place of favor and strength. This imagery conveys the exaltation of the Messiah, who is given authority over all creation. In the New Testament, this is understood as Jesus' ascension and His current reign in heaven. It signifies the completion of His redemptive work and His ongoing intercession for believers. This phrase also connects to other New Testament passages, such as Hebrews 1:3 and Ephesians 1:20-22, which describe Jesus' exalted position and His role as King and High Priest.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The revered king of Israel, known for his psalms and his heart for God. In this verse, David is quoted to emphasize the prophetic nature of his writings.

2. The Lord (Yahweh)
Refers to God the Father, who speaks to the Messiah in the quoted Psalm.

3. My Lord (Adonai)
Refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, whom David acknowledges as his Lord, indicating the divine nature of Christ.

4. Heaven
The dwelling place of God, where Jesus ascended after His resurrection, unlike David who did not ascend.

5. Psalm 110:1
The Old Testament scripture being quoted, which is a messianic psalm attributed to David, pointing to the authority and divinity of the Messiah.
Teaching Points
Understanding Prophecy
Recognize the importance of Old Testament prophecies in affirming the identity and mission of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:34 shows how David, through the Holy Spirit, foresaw the Messiah's exaltation.

Christ's Authority
Acknowledge Jesus' divine authority as He sits at the right hand of God. This position signifies power, honor, and the completion of His redemptive work.

The Role of Scripture
Appreciate the unity and consistency of Scripture. The New Testament often references the Old Testament to reveal the fulfillment of God's promises through Christ.

Faith in the Ascended Christ
Trust in the living and reigning Christ who intercedes for us. His ascension assures us of His ongoing work and presence in our lives.

Witnessing with Confidence
Like Peter, use Scripture to confidently share the gospel, knowing that it is rooted in God's eternal plan and promises.(34) The Lord said. . . .--There is, when we remember what had passed but seven weeks before, something very striking in the reproduction by St. Peter of the very words by which our Lord had brought the scribes to confess their ignorance of the true interpretation of the Psalmist's mysterious words (Psalm 110:1). (See Note on Matthew 22:44.) Those who were then silenced are now taught how it was that David's Son was also David's Lord.

Verse 34. - Ascended not for is not ascended, A.V. For David, etc. The ascension of Christ is inferred from the previous prophecy, "Thou wilt show me the path of life," etc.; and is there distinctly proved from Psalm 110:1, which Peter (remembering, probably, our Lord's application of it as recorded in Matthew 22:42-45, which he had doubtless heard) shows could not apply to David himself, but only to David's Lord.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

David
Δαυὶδ (Dauid)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1138: David, King of Israel. Of Hebrew origin; Dabid, the Israelite king.

{did} not
Οὐ (Ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

ascend
ἀνέβη (anebē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 305: To go up, mount, ascend; of things: I rise, spring up, come up. From ana and the base of basis; to go up.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

heaven,
οὐρανούς (ouranous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

he himself
αὐτός (autos)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

says:
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

‘The
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord
Κύριος (Kyrios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

said
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

Lord,
Κυρίῳ (Kyriō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

“Sit
Κάθου (Kathou)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2521: To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.

at
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

right hand,
δεξιῶν (dexiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1188: On the right hand, right hand, right. From dechomai; the right side or hand.


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NT Apostles: Acts 2:34 For David didn't ascend into the heavens (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 2:33
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