The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Set themselves - implying their determined attitude in array "against Yahweh:" used of Goliath presenting himself in hostile attitude before Israel (1 Samuel 17:16).
Rulers - `princes.' Subordinate governors conspire with the superior kings against Messiah (Luke 19:14). The spirit of anti-Christianity, which has long leavened the world secretly, shall break out into open hostility in the last days (Revelation 16:14; Revelation 18:12-14; Revelation 19:10-20; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-10). The incipient fulfillment in Acts 4:25-27 is a pledge of the final one. His anointed - `His Messiah:' anointed with the plenitude of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-3; Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18; John 3:34, end), as prophet, priest, and king (the three functionaries who used to be anointed: cf. the anointing of David, the type, 1 Samuel 16:12-14). The only other passage where "Messiah" occurs, in respect to the Redeemer, is Daniel 9:25-26. This psalm is quoted as to Messiah in Acts 4:24-25; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15. Jarchi and the older Jewish writers refer this psalm to Messiah. And that such is its reference appears from the two names of the Redeemer current in Christ's time-namely, Messiah ("Anointed") and Son of God (the latter applied to Him by Nathanael, John 1:49; and by the high priest, Matthew 26:63), both derived from this second psalm (Psalms 2:2; Psalms 2:6; margin, Psalms 2:7; Psalms 2:12).