Acts 13:36

γὰρ : David is contrasted with Christ by St. Paul as by St. Peter, Acts 2:29. ἰδίᾳ γενεᾷ ὑπηρ.: “after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell on sleep,” R.V., but in margin the rendering of A.V. is practically retained. It seems best to take ἰδίᾳ γενεᾷ as a dative of time, cf. Acts 13:20; Ephesians 3:5 (so Blass, Wendt, Zöckler, Felten), and not as dat [262] commodi. St. Paul's point seems to be (1) the contrast between the service of David which extended only for a generation, and the service of Christ which lasted through all ages permanently. But this contrast would be also marked if we adopt R.V. margin rendering and govern ἰδίᾳ γεν. by ὑπηρ. (see Weiss). (2) The second point of contrast is between the corruption which David saw, and the incorruption of the Holy One of God. Weiss still connects τῇ Θεοῦ βουλῇ with ἐκοιμήθη; see margin (2) in R.V.; but this does not seem so significant as the contrast drawn between David serving the counsel or purpose of God for one, or during one generation, whilst in Christ the eternal purpose of God was realised. προσετέθη πρὸς τοὺς π. αὐτοῦ : Hebraistic expression, lit [263], “was added,” i.e., in Sheol, cf. Genesis 26:8; Judges 2:10 1Ma 2:69.

[262] dative case.

[263] literal, literally.