Right Hand of God

Why the right hand of God?

ACTS 2 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 2:31-32 (B) Who Raised Jesus?

Acts 2:33-37 Right Hand of God

ACTS 2:33-35 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’

When had King David prophesied, "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool'" (Acts 2:34)?
The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Psalm 110:1).

Why the "right hand of God" (Acts 2:33)?
The side of the right hand is the position of equal status and honor. After Jesus - God the Son - accomplishes His mission on earth and ascends to heaven, He will be "exalted to the right hand of" (Acts 2:33) God the Father.

What had Jesus just "poured out" (Acts 2:33) from His heavenly throne?
What they "now see and hear" (Acts 2:33): the "rushing mighty wind" (Acts 2:2), "divided tongues, as of fire" (Acts 2:3), and the filling of "the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4). See Acts 2.

What is meant by Jesus' enemies becoming His "footstool" (Acts 2:35, Psalm 110:1)?
It is an expression of complete victory. The image is of a seated victorious king putting his feet on the necks of his beaten enemies who are laying prostrate before him.

Who are His enemies?
All non-Christians

What about non-Christians who are neutral, not opposed to Jesus?
Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me..." (Matthew 12:30).

Why is that?
All non-Christians are still in their sin, which is rebellion against God.

Are you with or against Jesus?

ACTS 2:36-37 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Why does Peter say, "Jesus, whom you crucified" (Acts 2:36)?
Many, perhaps most, of the people in the crowd had been in Jerusalem fifty days prior for the Passover feast and had called for Jesus to be crucified (see Crucify Him).

Why did the crowd end up asking, "Men and brethren, what shall we do (Acts 2:37)?
"They were cut to the heart" (Acts 2:37) by a truth they couldn't challenge.