Acts 3 24

Acts 3:24 kjv

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

Acts 3:24 nkjv

Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.

Acts 3:24 niv

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

Acts 3:24 esv

And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

Acts 3:24 nlt

"Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today.

Acts 3 verses

Acts 3 24 Meaning

Acts 3:24 asserts that the entire prophetic tradition of Israel, from the time of Samuel onwards, unanimously pointed to and announced the era inaugurated by Jesus Christ. Peter is proclaiming that the events of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the subsequent pouring out of the Holy Spirit are not new or unexpected, but rather the very culmination and fulfillment of all God's foretold plans as recorded by His prophets throughout history. This verse underscores the unity of God's redemptive purpose across testaments, demonstrating Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah promised by the Scriptures.

Acts 3 24 Context

Acts chapter 3 begins with Peter and John healing a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. This miraculous sign draws a large crowd, presenting an immediate opportunity for Peter to preach the Gospel. Peter addresses the astonished Jewish crowd, correcting their misunderstanding that the healing came from human power (v. 12). He quickly redirects their attention to Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had delivered up to Pilate and denied, but whom God raised from the dead (v. 13-15). Peter then preaches repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, grounding his message in Old Testament prophecy. He references Moses' prophecy of a coming Prophet (v. 22-23), identifying Jesus as that Prophet. Verse 24 extends this prophetic witness, asserting that not just Moses, but "all the prophets, from Samuel" onward, also foretold the events surrounding Jesus and "these days" of the Messianic age. Historically, Peter's audience was composed of devout Jews familiar with their Scriptures and awaiting the Messiah, making the appeal to prophetic fulfillment a compelling argument for Jesus' true identity. The sermon implicitly polemicizes against the prevalent Jewish belief that their religious observance alone was sufficient without recognizing the Christ foretold by those very scriptures, and against the idea that the Messiah's coming would be solely about earthly political deliverance, rather than spiritual redemption.

Acts 3 24 Word analysis

• Yes, and: (καὶ ἔτι, kai eti) This phrase links Peter's current point directly to his preceding argument in verses 22-23, where he quoted Moses' prophecy (Deut 18:15-19). It emphasizes a continuous flow of prophetic testimony, expanding beyond Moses to encompass the entire prophetic line.
• all the prophets: (πάντες οἱ προφῆται, pantes hoi prophētai)
  • Pantes means "all" or "every." This emphasizes the comprehensive and unanimous nature of the prophetic witness. No single prophet contradicted this testimony; rather, they collectively spoke of God's redemptive plan culminating in the Messiah.
  • Prophētai refers to those who "speak forth" God's message, inspired by Him, often revealing future events. This highlights divine authorship and authority behind the message.
• from Samuel: (ἀπὸ Σαμουὴλ, apo Samouēl)
  • Samuel (c. 11th century BC) is significant because he marks a crucial turning point in Israel's history: the transition from the period of judges to the monarchy. He anointed Israel's first two kings (Saul and David), establishing the Davidic line from which the Messiah was to come. He also represents a revitalization of prophecy and the establishment of "schools of prophets" (e.g., 1 Sam 19:20).
  • By starting with Samuel, Peter shows that the Messianic prophecies are not isolated or new, but deeply interwoven into the fabric of Israel's covenant history from an early and significant era, long before the classical prophets like Isaiah or Jeremiah.
• and those who followed: (καὶ τοὺς καθεξῆς, kai tous kathexeis)
  • This indicates all the subsequent prophets in chronological order, reinforcing the unbroken chain of prophetic witness that began with Moses, was revived significantly with Samuel, and continued through figures like Nathan, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Minor Prophets, up to John the Baptist.
• as many as have spoken: (ὅσοι ἐλάλησαν, hosoi elalēsan)
  • This phrase emphasizes that every individual prophet who received and uttered a divine message participated in this collective testimony to the Messiah and His era. It further stresses the comprehensive scope of the prophetic agreement.
• have also foretold: (καὶ προκατήγγειλαν, kai prokatēnggeilan)
  • Prokatēnggeilan is a strong compound verb meaning "to announce beforehand," "to preach in advance," or "to proclaim distinctly beforehand." It signifies not merely a hint or suggestion, but a clear, authoritative declaration of future events. The prefix "pro-" emphasizes the temporal precedence. This is the essence of predictive prophecy.
• these days: (τὰς ἡμέρας ταύτας, tas hēmeras tautas)
  • This refers to the immediate historical present in which Peter and his audience lived, characterized by Jesus's ministry, His atoning death, resurrection, ascension, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the establishment of the Church. It represents the inaugurated Messianic age, the fulfillment of the long-awaited divine plan. For the Jewish audience, "these days" are the culmination of their history and hope, marked by the presence of the Messiah they anticipated.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed": This phrase broadens the scope of prophetic testimony significantly. Peter moves beyond just Moses to encompass the entirety of the prophetic tradition of Israel, emphasizing its unbroken and unified nature. Samuel marks a pivotal point, signifying the prophetic line active throughout the monarchical period and beyond. It challenges any notion that Jesus was merely a rogue prophet; instead, He is presented as the very subject of all Israel's revered prophets.
• "as many as have spoken, have also foretold": This powerfully reinforces the authority and completeness of the prophetic witness. Every genuine prophet of God, through their divine inspiration, consistently pointed to this very era. The repetition underscores the unanimous agreement and predictive certainty of the divine plan. It signifies that God's purpose for the Messiah was consistently and clearly revealed throughout Israel's history, not a recent or novel concept.
• "these days": This is a direct reference to the era inaugurated by Jesus Christ—His life, death, resurrection, the Pentecost outpouring, and the dawn of the New Covenant. It's the fulfillment period that the prophets longed to see. This bold declaration means that Peter is telling his Jewish audience that their long-cherished prophecies are not about a distant future, but about the events happening right now before their eyes, making their responsibility to respond to Jesus immediate and pressing.

Acts 3 24 Bonus section

The concept of "all the prophets" (LXX translation often used for the section of the Hebrew Bible) starting with Samuel emphasizes a chronological flow of God's revealed truth. While Moses is foundational (Law), Samuel is pivotal as the beginning of the "prophetic succession" distinct from the Mosaic legal code, ushering in the era of kingdom-oriented prophecy. This perspective, often debated by scholars, sees Samuel as a 'second founder' after Moses, instrumental in shaping the prophetic schools and guiding the nation towards kingship, which was inherently tied to the future Messianic King. The Greek word prokatēnggeilan is particularly strong, denoting a prior, definitive proclamation, indicating that the prophetic words were not vague suggestions but intentional, specific announcements about the very nature of Christ's coming and the dawn of "these days." This highlights the supernatural element of biblical prophecy – it's not simply human insight but divine foresight expressed through human instruments, ensuring a coherent narrative across thousands of years about Jesus.

Acts 3 24 Commentary

Acts 3:24 stands as a cornerstone in Peter's second major sermon, delivering a powerful affirmation of Jesus as the Christ by asserting the unbroken prophetic chain of testimony. Following the miraculous healing of the lame man, Peter seized the opportunity to address the deeply religious Jewish crowd in the temple courts. Having already cited Moses's significant prophecy of a coming Prophet in Acts 3:22-23, Peter now extends the argument, declaring that every prophet, starting distinctly with Samuel, unequivocally proclaimed "these days"—the very period in which the events of Christ's life, death, resurrection, and the Holy Spirit's outpouring were unfolding.

This verse emphasizes the divine authorship and perfect consistency of the entire Old Testament concerning the person and work of Jesus. It is not an isolated message from one or two figures, but the collective witness of all who truly spoke for God. Samuel's mention is particularly noteworthy, marking the prophetic movement's vitality after the time of the Judges and its close connection to the establishment of the Davidic monarchy, the lineage from which Messiah would descend. Peter effectively argued that God's plan of redemption through Jesus was woven into the fabric of Israel's history, prophesied centuries in advance. This serves as both a powerful apologetic for Christ's Messiahship to a Jewish audience grounded in the Law and Prophets, and a call to recognize the urgent need for repentance in light of this fulfilled truth. God, in His infinite wisdom, laid out His plan progressively, ensuring that when the Messiah came, His arrival would be recognized by those with eyes to see the pattern foretold in Scripture. This fulfilled prophecy underscored God's faithfulness and the binding nature of His promise, urging the listeners to embrace the very salvation they had unknowingly rejected.