Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 151:601 (Jan 1994)
Article: The Davidic Covenant in Acts—Revelation
Author: Cleon L. Rogers, Jr.

BSac 151:601 (Jan 94) p. 71

The Davidic Covenant in Acts—Revelation

Cleon L. Rogers, Jr.

[Cleon L. Rogers, Jr., is a missionary and author in Hüttenberg/Weidenhausen, Germany.]

[This is the second of two articles in the series, “The Covenant of David in the New Testament.”]

Interestingly the New Testament includes relatively few references to the Davidic promises outside the Gospels, but those which do occur are certainly important. The paucity of references to the Davidic Covenant is because God’s present rule on the earth is expressed through the church, not the Davidic kingdom, as explained in the first article in this series.

The Davidic Promises in the Book of Acts

In the Book of Acts three areas pertain to the promises given to David: those related to the kingdom, to Jesus’ resurrection, and to the Gentiles.

The Relationship of the Davidic Promises to the Kingdom

The Book of Acts opens with the postresurrection ministry of Jesus before His ascension (1:1–11). During this time He appeared to His disciples and was “speaking [λέγων]1 of the things concerning the kingdom of God [τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ]”2 (v. 3). Though Luke did not expressly state what Jesus

BSac 151:601 (Jan 94) p. 72

taught about the kingdom of God, the general context of the time (see Luke 24:19–26) and the specific context of Acts (as seen in the instructions concerning the coming of the Spirit and the following question of the disciples; vv. 4–6), give good indications of what He taught.

Jesus evidently explained how the Old Testament prophecies concerning David’s kingdom were related to His coming to earth and how they were to be understood in view of His rejection, death, and resurrection. The coming of the Holy Spirit was to establish the basis for the new rule of God on earth through the church, but was also related to the future kingdom of Israel based on the New Covenant. Israel was not rejected forever, but would one day repent and receive the promised Davidic kingdom.3 With this background it is possible to understand the question of the disciples (v. 6), as well as the transitional character of the Book of Acts.4

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