Verses 22-36 form the "actual kerygma" that includes Scriptural proofs, the narrative of Jesus of Nazareth as the Lord and Messiah, in whose name the hearers must be baptized in order to be saved. This forms the main themes of both Peter and Paul’s proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

• This sermon builds on a favorite psalm among early exegetes: Psalm 110:1. No other text is quoted in the christological expressions of the New Testament more often.

• Luke is quite careful how the terms resurrection, ascension, and exaltation are used in the Luke-Acts narrative. Resurrection functions as corroboration of Jesus as Messiah, but also as an event that begins the timer on God’s end time stopwatch.

"The New Testament never simply says, ‘remember Jesus Christ.’ That is a half-finished sentence. It says, ‘remember Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.’ " -Ernest Renan

• "We have seen the exalted one [through his crucifixion and humiliation]. Even the resurrection does not break through the incognito. Only the disciples see the risen one. Only blind faith has sight here. As those who do not see, they believe and in such faith, they see: ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe’ " (Jn 20:29). -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Begin with a question: Impossible for Jesus to be held in the power of death (2:24)? First, in order to understand what this astonishing claim means - important to spell death with a capital "D." Death was envisioned as a personality, an intelligent power capable of control and enslavement.

• Describe the various layers of Death-as cessation of our human and personal lives; as the power that cuts all dreams, plans, work short; Death-as the present moment enemy: that which causes emptiness and meaninglessness (Romans 8:20; Heb. 2:15); Death as the power of sin: we are "dead" to sin (Eph. 2:1). Thus, Death via the conduit of sin also paralyzes our capacity to relate to God, to reach our fullness of mission .

• Shift to God’s power as we see it in the struggle against the power of Death. Three useful Scriptural allusions-creating something out of nothing, enabling women to conceive, and giving life in a situation of death.

• The message of the resurrection: death was not able to keep Christ because God raised him up - loosened the bonds of death (lit. "cords," "chains,")! God irrevocably won the struggle against the human dreaded enemy, Death.