"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence."
- Acts 2:26-28 -

The Holy Spirit came upon the praying group of 120 (1:15). All of them were filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues about 16 different languages. The apostle Peter explained what is happening to the bewildered people. He first explained that it was the fulfillment of what the prophet Joel prophesied (17-21). He also said that it became possible through Jesus' redemptive work of His death and resurrection. Peter then explained that even King David found his hope in the Messiah's resurrection. King David had everything on earth, power, wealth, fame, and loyal subjects. Still, he felt empty and dark when he thought about his death and being decayed in the tomb.

However, he found true joy when he learned the resurrection of the Messiah and his resurrection in Him. His heart was glad, his tongue rejoiced and his body rest in hope (26). He described it as the paths of life and that he was filled with joy (28).

Seeing my grandmother's death and my father's death during my elementary school days, it has been my long-term life struggle to know the meaning of life from the age of 7 till I received the risen Jesus at the age of 19. Acts 2:22-28 was the very text my pastor presented the gospel of the resurrection to me in the year of 1975. It was my very confession, "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence" (28). I was freed from the darkness of death and started to walk the path of bright life. Praise be to God!

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, praise you for allowing us to walk the paths of life through your death and resurrection. Help me to share this gospel to those who are sitting in the shadow of death.