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Selected Verse: Acts 2:34 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 2:34	King James	For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For David is not ascended into the heavens - That is, David has not risen from the dead and ascended to heaven. This further shows that Psa 16:1-11 could not refer to David, but must refer to the Messiah. Great as they esteemed David, and much as they were accustomed to apply these expressions of the Scripture to him, yet they could not be applicable to him. They must refer to some other being; and especially that passage which Peter now proceeds to quote. It was of great importance to show that these expressions could not apply to David, and also that David bore testimony to the exalted character and dignity of the Messiah. Hence, Peter here adduces David himself as affirming that the Messiah was to be exalted to a dignity far above his own. This does not affirm that David was not saved, or that his spirit had not ascended to heaven, but that he had not been exalted in the heavens in the sense in which Peter was speaking of the Messiah. But he saith himself - Psa 110:1. The Lord - The small capitals used in translating the word "Lord" in the Bible denote that the original word is יהוה Yahweh. The Hebrews regarded this as the unique name of God, a name incommunicable to any other being. It is not applied to any being but God in the Scriptures. The Jews had such a reverence for it that they never pronounced it; but when it occurred in the Scriptures they pronounced another name, אדני ̀Adonaay. Here it means, "Yahweh said," etc. My Lord - This is a different word in the Hebrew - it is אדני ̀Adonaay. It properly is applied by a servant to his master, or a subject to his sovereign, or is used as a title of respect by an inferior to a superior. It means here, "Yahweh said to him whom I, David, acknowledge to be my superior and sovereign." Thus, though he regarded him as his descendant according to the flesh, yet he regarded him also as his superior and Lord. By reference to this passage our Saviour confounded the Pharisees, Mat 22:42-46. That the passage in this Psalm refers to the Messiah is clear. Our Saviour, in Mat 22:42, expressly applied it thus, and in such a manner as to show that this was the well-understood doctrine of the Jews. See the notes on Mat 22:42, etc.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For David is not ascended into the heavens - That is, David has not risen from the dead and ascended to heaven. This further shows that Psa 16:1-11 could not refer to David, but must refer to the Messiah. Great as they esteemed David, and much as they were accustomed to apply these expressions of the Scripture to him, yet they could not be applicable to him. They must refer to some other being; and especially that passage which Peter now proceeds to quote. It was of great importance to show that these expressions could not apply to David, and also that David bore testimony to the exalted character and dignity of the Messiah. Hence, Peter here adduces David himself as affirming that the Messiah was to be exalted to a dignity far above his own. This does not affirm that David was not saved, or that his spirit had not ascended to heaven, but that he had not been exalted in the heavens in the sense in which Peter was speaking of the Messiah.

But he saith himself - Psa 110:1.

The Lord - The small capitals used in translating the word "Lord" in the Bible denote that the original word is יהוה Yahweh. The Hebrews regarded this as the unique name of God, a name incommunicable to any other being. It is not applied to any being but God in the Scriptures. The Jews had such a reverence for it that they never pronounced it; but when it occurred in the Scriptures they pronounced another name, אדני ̀Adonaay. Here it means, "Yahweh said," etc.

My Lord - This is a different word in the Hebrew - it is אדני ̀Adonaay. It properly is applied by a servant to his master, or a subject to his sovereign, or is used as a title of respect by an inferior to a superior. It means here, "Yahweh said to him whom I, David, acknowledge to be my superior and sovereign." Thus, though he regarded him as his descendant according to the flesh, yet he regarded him also as his superior and Lord. By reference to this passage our Saviour confounded the Pharisees, Mat 22:42-46. That the passage in this Psalm refers to the Messiah is clear. Our Saviour, in Mat 22:42, expressly applied it thus, and in such a manner as to show that this was the well-understood doctrine of the Jews. See the notes on Mat 22:42, etc.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Is not ascended (οὐ ἀνέβη) Aorist, did not ascend.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Sit thou on my right hand - In this and the following verse is an allusion to two ancient customs; one, to the highest honour that used to be paid to persons by placing them on the right hand, as Solomon did Bathsheba, when sitting on his throne, Kg1 2:19; and the other, to the custom of conquerors, who used to tread on the necks of their vanquished enemies, as a token of their entire victory and triumph over them.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
David is not ascended - Consequently, he has not sent forth this extraordinary gift, but it comes from his Lord, of whom he said, The Lord said unto my Lord, etc. See the note on these words, Mat 22:44 (note).

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⁴² Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

⁴² Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
⁴³ He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
⁴⁴ The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
⁴⁵ If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
⁴⁶ And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

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

¹ Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
² O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
³ But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
⁴ Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
⁵ The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
⁶ The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
⁷ I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
⁸ I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
¹⁰ For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
¹¹ Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

¹⁹ Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

⁴⁴ The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?