Act 2:34-36 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord Jesus has not only been raised from the dead by God, but He has also been “exalted” by the power of God. Peter attributes everything to God to show how much God appreciates and has accepted the work of His Son. On earth people may have despised and rejected Him, but to God He is the perfect Delightful One Whom He joyfully gives the highest and most glorious place in heaven. As the Father, He has given to the Lord Jesus the Holy Spirit promised by Him that the Lord Jesus might pour Him out ( ; ). As glorified in heaven, Christ receives the Holy Spirit for the second time. At His baptism He received the Holy Spirit for Himself, now He receives the Spirit to pour Him out upon others. As proof of the glorification of Christ, Peter quotes another verse from the Scriptures. This time the proof comes from Psalm 110 ( ). Just as he said about Psalm 16 that it does not primarily refer to David, but to Christ ( ), here too he says that Psalm 110:1 is not about David, but about the Lord Jesus. [In the various psalms Peter quotes, we have a beautiful consecutive testimony of the death, resurrection, ascension and glorification of Christ.] David speaks in Psalm 110:1 about the glorification of the Lord Jesus as an act of Yahweh, that is God. The Lord Jesus is exalted by the right hand of God and God has given Him the place of honor at His right hand. That place belongs to Him, He has deserved that place. David speaks about Him as “my Lord”. The Lord Jesus is the Son of David as Man, but He is also the Lord of David, because He is also the Son of God. There is an “until” connected to that place of honor at God’s right hand. There will come a time when the Lord Jesus leaves that place to return to earth. He will then judge the enemies of His people – and the enemies of His people are also His enemies. He will place all those who have refused to repent and have constantly turned full of hatred against Him and His people as vanquished enemies under His feet so that He will rest on them. Then His wrath against all the injustice done to Him and His people will have found rest. Until that moment He remains in the glory of heaven. The outpouring of the Spirit is proof of the place He now occupies there ( ). Peter presents to the whole house of Israel the certainty of what God has done to His Son. He also confronts them with their crime. Again he speaks about “this” Jesus. The contrast between the place God gives Him and the place man gives Him is enormous. Man has rejected, mistreated and murdered Him as a worthless one. God, on the other hand, has made Him Lord, the Sovereign Who has all the power in heaven and on earth. God has also made Him Christ, the Bearer and Distributor of all His promises. Also on earth the Lord Jesus was Lord and Christ, but there He was in relation to Israel and all the promises made to Israel. Now He is as Man in heaven and it is with respect to God’s eternal counsel.

‏ Acts 2:34-36

Jesus Made Both Lord and Christ

The Lord Jesus has not only been raised from the dead by God, but He has also been “exalted” by the power of God. Peter attributes everything to God to show how much God appreciates and has accepted the work of His Son. On earth people may have despised and rejected Him, but to God He is the perfect Delightful One Whom He joyfully gives the highest and most glorious place in heaven. As the Father, He has given to the Lord Jesus the Holy Spirit promised by Him that the Lord Jesus might pour Him out (Acts 1:4; Jn 14:16-17 ; 26 ; Jn 15:26). As glorified in heaven, Christ receives the Holy Spirit for the second time. At His baptism He received the Holy Spirit for Himself, now He receives the Spirit to pour Him out upon others.

As proof of the glorification of Christ, Peter quotes another verse from the Scriptures. This time the proof comes from Psalm 110 (Psa 110:1). Just as he said about Psalm 16 that it does not primarily refer to David, but to Christ (Acts 2:31), here too he says that Psalm 110:1 is not about David, but about the Lord Jesus. [In the various psalms Peter quotes, we have a beautiful consecutive testimony of the death, resurrection, ascension and glorification of Christ.]

David speaks in Psalm 110:1 about the glorification of the Lord Jesus as an act of Yahweh, that is God. The Lord Jesus is exalted by the right hand of God and God has given Him the place of honor at His right hand. That place belongs to Him, He has deserved that place. David speaks about Him as “my Lord”. The Lord Jesus is the Son of David as Man, but He is also the Lord of David, because He is also the Son of God.

There is an “until” connected to that place of honor at God’s right hand. There will come a time when the Lord Jesus leaves that place to return to earth. He will then judge the enemies of His people – and the enemies of His people are also His enemies. He will place all those who have refused to repent and have constantly turned full of hatred against Him and His people as vanquished enemies under His feet so that He will rest on them. Then His wrath against all the injustice done to Him and His people will have found rest. Until that moment He remains in the glory of heaven. The outpouring of the Spirit is proof of the place He now occupies there (Jn 16:8-11).

Peter presents to the whole house of Israel the certainty of what God has done to His Son. He also confronts them with their crime. Again he speaks about “this” Jesus. The contrast between the place God gives Him and the place man gives Him is enormous. Man has rejected, mistreated and murdered Him as a worthless one. God, on the other hand, has made Him Lord, the Sovereign Who has all the power in heaven and on earth. God has also made Him Christ, the Bearer and Distributor of all His promises.

Also on earth the Lord Jesus was Lord and Christ, but there He was in relation to Israel and all the promises made to Israel. Now He is as Man in heaven and it is with respect to God’s eternal counsel.