King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And it shall come to pass, [that] every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Everyone who fails to listen to that prophet will be removed from the people and destroyed.’
Berean Standard Bible:
Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’
American Standard Version:
And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G1161} it shall come to pass{G2071}, that every{G3956} soul{G5590}, which{G3748}{G302} will{G191} not{G3361} hear{G191} that{G1565} prophet{G4396}, shall be destroyed{G1842} from among{G1537} the people{G2992}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 18:19
- And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him.
John 12:48
- He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Hebrews 10:28
- He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Hebrews 10:30
- For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Revelation 20:15
- And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Hebrews 10:39
- But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 12:25
- See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Acts 3:23
Acts 3:23 is a verse set within the context of the early Christian church's growth and evangelism following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. This verse is part of a speech delivered by the Apostle Peter to a crowd in Jerusalem after he and John the Apostle healed a man who had been lame from birth. The healing attracted attention, and Peter used the opportunity to preach about Jesus, whom he identifies as the prophet referred to in Deuteronomy 18:15-19, where Moses foretells that God will raise up a prophet like him from among their brothers, and that the people should listen to him.
In Acts 3:23, Peter is directly quoting the Septuagint version of Deuteronomy 18:19, emphasizing the consequence of not listening to this prophet—Jesus Christ. The theme of the verse is the imperative of heeding the message of Jesus. It carries a warning that those who reject Jesus as the prophet foretold by Moses will face destruction, which in the context of the New Testament, is understood as eternal separation from God.
The historical context of this verse is crucial. The early Christians, including Peter, were predominantly Jewish and were making a case to their fellow Jews that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Hebrew Scriptures. By invoking the words of Moses, Peter is establishing Jesus' credibility and authority within the Jewish tradition, while also signaling to the Jewish audience that the Christian message is a continuation and fulfillment of their own scriptures.
In summary, Acts 3:23 underscores the early church's theological claim that Jesus is the prophet like Moses whose teachings must be obeyed. It reflects the early Christian effort to convince a Jewish audience of the legitimacy of Jesus' ministry and the urgency of accepting him as Messiah. The verse serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of rejecting Jesus, framing it as a matter of spiritual life and death.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English). - Strong's Number: G2071
There are 170 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔσομαι
Transliteration: ésomai
Pronunciation: es'-om-ahee
Description: future of εἰμί; will be:--shall (should) be (have), (shall) come (to pass), X may have, X fall, what would follow, X live long, X sojourn. - Strong's Number: G3956
There are 1075 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πᾶς
Transliteration: pâs
Pronunciation: pas
Description: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever. - Strong's Number: G5590
There are 95 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ψυχή
Transliteration: psychḗ
Pronunciation: psoo-khay'
Description: from ψύχω; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from πνεῦμα, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from ζωή, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ, רוּחַ and חַי):--heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you. - Strong's Number: G3748
There are 148 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅστις
Transliteration: hóstis
Pronunciation: hot'-ee
Description: from ὅς and τὶς; which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same:--X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever). Compare ὅτι. - Strong's Number: G302
There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἄν
Transliteration: án
Pronunciation: an
Description: a primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty:--(what-, where-, wither-, who-)soever. Usually unexpressed except by the subjunctive or potential mood. Also contracted for ἐάν. - Strong's Number: G191
There are 448 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀκούω
Transliteration: akoúō
Pronunciation: ak-oo'-o
Description: a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand. - Strong's Number: G3361
There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μή
Transliteration: mḗ
Pronunciation: may
Description: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas οὐ expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas οὐ expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also ἐὰν μή, ἵνα μή, οὐ μή, μῆκος, μηκύνω, μήν, μὴ οὐκ. - Strong's Number: G1565
There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐκεῖνος
Transliteration: ekeînos
Pronunciation: ek-i'-nos
Description: from ἐκεῖ; that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed:--he, it, the other (same), selfsame, that (same, very), X their, X them, they, this, those. See also οὗτος. - Strong's Number: G4396
There are 143 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: προφήτης
Transliteration: prophḗtēs
Pronunciation: prof-ay'-tace
Description: from a compound of πρό and φημί; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:--prophet. - Strong's Number: G1842
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐξολοθρεύω
Transliteration: exolothreúō
Pronunciation: ex-ol-oth-ryoo'-o
Description: from ἐκ and ὀλοθρεύω; to extirpate:--destroy. - Strong's Number: G1537
There are 761 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐκ
Transliteration: ek
Pronunciation: ex
Description: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion. - Strong's Number: G2992
There are 139 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λαός
Transliteration: laós
Pronunciation: lah-os'
Description: apparently a primary word; a people (in general; thus differing from δῆμος, which denotes one's own populace):--people.