SS Lesson Acts 3:23-24

Scripture References

KJV

23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

2. NIV 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ 

24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.

CROSS REFERENCES

Deuteronomy 18:15 | “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— Deuteronomy 18:16 | just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ Deuteronomy 18:17 | And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. Deuteronomy 18:18 | I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. Deuteronomy 18:19 | And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

KJV Commentary

22–26. The apostle introduces the testimony of Moses to support his case in a call for national repentance. The words that follow are from Deuteronomy 18:15ff. Moses is there warning the children of Israel not to follow after the practices of the Canaanites, but to trust God to raise up a prophet like Moses from among their brethren. Peter contends that that prophet was indeed the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Jews had crucified.

The prophetic testimonies of Samuel and the subsequent prophets are added to that of Moses. The whole of Old Testament prophetic testimony is to show that Jesus was indeed the expected Messiah, but in the plan of God, was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. In addressing the children of the prophets, Moses makes reference to the fact that the Israelites are the heirs to the covenants made to Abraham and others. Hence God is vitally interested in having the Israelites repent and receive Jesus Christ as Messiah and Saviour so that He may turn away every one of you from his iniquities.

Believers Bible Commentary

3:23 During Christ’s reign on earth, those who refuse to hear and obey Him will be utterly destroyed. Of course, those who reject Him today suffer eternal judgment also, but the primary thought of this passage is that Christ will yet rule with a rod of iron and that those who disobey Him and rebel against Him will be promptly executed.

3:24 To further emphasize that the times of restoration were well predicted, Peter adds that all the prophets from Samuel and his successors spoke of these days.

Intervarsity Commentary

3:22–23. Other New Testament texts also apply Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18 to Jesus. Some other sources (e.g., Samaritan documents and the Dead Sea Scrolls; not usually the rabbis) also applied this text to a future prophet like Moses; some leaders whose followers thought they were prophets tried to duplicate miracles of Moses or Joshua, probably indicating that they sought this role. Josephus states that their miracles failed, however.

3:24–26. Peter’s hearers are spiritually “heirs of the prophets”; on the prophecies see 3:18. Because Abraham’s blessing for the nations (Gen 12:3) was to come through them, the servant (3:13) had been sent to be the blessing to them first.

FaithLife Study Bible

3:23 Moses stresses the people’s accountability to hear and obey the prophet as one who speaks on behalf of Yahweh Himself.

3:24 Peter affirms what Jesus had told His disciples after His resurrection: that the OT Scriptures testify to Him (Luke 24:25–27, 44–47).

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27 (KJV)

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.