Acts 2:24

whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

'WHOM GOD RAISED UP'-'Likely there had been rumors of His resurrection spreading through Jerusalem, but now Peter stands and without equivocation declares that what had been only rumored is actually the fact!' (Reese p. 65)

'HAVING LOOSED THE PANGS OF DEATH'-'putting an end to the agony of death' (NASV)

'PANGS'-5604. odin o-deen'; akin to 3601;. pang or throe, especially of childbirth: -pain, sorrow, travail.

-Carefully note, this verse isn't teaching that Jesus suffered after He died (Luke 23:43). Rather we can take this expression in. couple of ways: (a) 'Birth pains..so that his resurrection is pictured as. regeneration,. new birth out of death into life.' (Stott p. 76) 'Death is represented "in travail", the birth-pangs ceasing with the delivery; i.e., the resurrection.' (Vincent p. 453) (b) Death is pictured here 'as. cord or rope that binds. man or confines him. This "bond" God loosed in the case of Jesus.' (Reese p. 65) See Psalms 18:4; Psalms 116:3. 'the Hebrew original means "snares" or "traps" or "cords" of death where..death are personified as hunters laying snares for prey.' (Robertson p. 30)

'IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE THAT HE SHOULD BE HOLDEN OF IT'-'being impossible for death to retain its hold upon him' (TCNT). In view of the fact that the death of Christ had been fixed in the mind of God, His resurrection must also have been pre-determined. In addition, seeing that Jesus is God (John 1:1), it is impossible that death could have any lasting effect upon Him. Note: The body of Jesus remained in the tomb three days, not because that is the length of time it took Jesus to beat death in. wrestling-match. Rather, that was the time period that God had determined (Matthew 12:39).

'HOLDEN'-2902. krateo krat-eh'-o; from 2904; to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or figuratively): -hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain, take (by).

PROVING THE RESURRECTION FROM O.T. SCRIPTURE: