The Grave Could Not Hold Him

Acts 2:24 (ESV) … “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

But the murdered Messiah had not stayed dead. God raised him up, and many people could testify to having seen the risen Christ. This was a powerful statement because many of the people listening to Peter’s words had been in Jerusalem fifty days earlier at Passover and may have seen or heard about the crucifixion of this “great teacher.” Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate sign that what he said about himself was true. Without the Resurrection, no one would have any reason to believe in Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:14).

Notice here that the Resurrection is attributed to God himself. The Resurrection is a foundational part of the preaching of Acts (see 2:32; 3:15, 26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30, 33–34, 37; 17:31; 26:23). The grave could not keep the author of life, the Creator (John 1:1–14; Colossians 1:15–17). Peter phrased it appropriately: it was impossible for the author of life to be held by the power of the grave![1]

[1] Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.