Acts 3:18

KJV

But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} those things, which {G3739} God {G2316} before had shewed {G4293} by {G1223} the mouth {G4750} of all {G3956} his {G846} prophets {G4396}, that Christ {G5547} should suffer {G3958}, he hath {G4137} so {G3779} fulfilled {G4137}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But this is how God fulfilled what he had announced in advance, when he spoke through all the prophets, namely, that his Messiah was to die.

Berean Standard Bible

But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer.

American Standard Version

But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 3:18 encapsulates a pivotal theological truth articulated by Peter: the suffering and death of Christ were not unforeseen tragedies but the precise fulfillment of God's predetermined plan, revealed through the collective witness of all the Old Testament prophets. This verse underscores divine sovereignty, affirming that God meticulously orchestrated the events surrounding Jesus' life, death, and resurrection to accomplish humanity's salvation, thereby validating Jesus' identity as the promised Messiah and demonstrating the unerring reliability of God's Word.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Peter's second major sermon in the Book of Acts, delivered in the Temple courts following the miraculous healing of a man lame from birth, recorded in [Acts 3:1-10](/acts/3-1-10 "Acts 3:1-10 - The Healing of the Lame Man"). The crowd, astonished by the miracle, gathered around Peter and John. Peter seized this opportune moment, not to draw attention to himself or John, but to redirect their focus to Jesus, the true source of power. He confronts their role in crucifying Jesus while simultaneously presenting the opportunity for repentance and forgiveness. Verse 3:18 serves as a theological linchpin, explaining that the seemingly contradictory event of the Messiah's suffering was, in fact, the very purpose of God, foretold long ago, thus legitimizing Jesus' messianic claim despite His ignominious death. This sets the stage for the call to repentance in [Acts 3:19](/acts/3-19 "Acts 3:19 - Call to Repentance").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Peter's audience was primarily Jewish, gathered at the Temple, a central hub of Jewish life and worship. Their understanding of the Messiah was largely shaped by prophecies of a conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression and restore the Davidic kingdom, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - Prophecy of the Messiah's Reign"). The concept of a suffering Messiah, particularly one who would be executed as a criminal, was deeply counter-intuitive and scandalous to many, as highlighted by [1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "1 Corinthians 1:23 - Christ Crucified, a Stumbling Block"). Peter's sermon directly challenges this prevailing expectation by asserting that the prophets had, in fact, foretold a suffering Messiah. This required a radical reinterpretation of their sacred texts, emphasizing the redemptive rather than merely political aspects of the Messiah's mission, and connecting Jesus' crucifixion to the concept of atonement found in the sacrificial system.
* **Key Themes:** [Acts 3:18](/acts/3-18 "Acts 3:18 - Prophetic Fulfillment of Christ's Suffering") contributes significantly to several key themes within Acts and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Foreknowledge**. Peter emphasizes that God "before had shewed" these events, indicating that Jesus' suffering was not an accident but part of God's eternal, unchangeable plan, a concept also articulated in [Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Determinate Counsel"). Secondly, the verse highlights **Prophetic Fulfillment in Jesus Christ**. Peter argues that Jesus is the culmination of Old Testament prophecies, particularly those concerning the Messiah. This suffering, though shocking to many, was precisely what prophets like Isaiah (e.g., [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant")) and David (e.g., [Psalm 22](/psalms/22 "Psalm 22 - A Messianic Psalm")) had foretold. This theme serves as irrefutable evidence for Jesus' identity as the Christ. Lastly, it underscores **The Necessity of Christ's Suffering**. The phrase "that Christ should suffer" reveals that His suffering was not merely a consequence of human sin but a divinely ordained prerequisite for salvation, providing the atoning sacrifice necessary for the forgiveness of sins, as elaborated throughout the New Testament, for instance in [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without Shedding of Blood").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **shewed (Greek, _prokatangéllō'_):** From G4293, meaning "to announce beforehand, i.e. predict, promise." This word emphasizes God's active role in revealing His plan for the Messiah's suffering long before its historical execution. It highlights divine foreknowledge and intentional communication through His chosen spokespersons, the prophets. The suffering of Christ was not an improvisation but a pre-declared certainty.
* **suffer (Greek, _páschō'_):** From G3958, meaning "to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful)." This term directly addresses the physical and emotional agony endured by Christ, culminating in His crucifixion. It signifies not just passive endurance but the active experience of pain, affliction, and ultimately, death, which was central to His redemptive mission.
* **fulfilled (Greek, _plēróō'_):** From G4137, meaning "to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram... or (figuratively) to furnish... satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction)." This powerful verb signifies the complete and precise execution of God's prophetic word. It indicates that every detail concerning Christ's suffering, as foretold, was brought to perfect completion, leaving no prophecy unfulfilled.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets":** This opening clause asserts divine authorship and prophetic authority. It establishes that the events surrounding Christ were not random but were divinely orchestrated and communicated in advance. The phrase "by the mouth of all his prophets" emphasizes the unified and consistent testimony of the Old Testament Scriptures, indicating a comprehensive and undeniable prophetic witness to the Messiah's coming and His specific experiences.
* **"that Christ should suffer":** This is the core content of the divine revelation. It specifies the seemingly paradoxical nature of the Messiah's mission – that the Anointed One, the King of Israel, would undergo suffering. This directly challenges the popular Jewish expectation of a triumphant, non-suffering Messiah and redefines the messianic role in light of God's redemptive plan, emphasizing the atoning work that would be accomplished through His pain.
* **"he hath so fulfilled":** This concluding clause declares the successful and complete accomplishment of God's prophetic word. The "he" refers to God, who brought about the fulfillment through Christ's life and death. The adverb "so" (Greek, _hoútō_) emphasizes the precise and exact manner in which the prophecies were brought to fruition, leaving no doubt that Jesus' suffering was the divinely intended outcome, not a tragic deviation.

#### Literary Devices
Peter's statement in [Acts 3:18](/acts/3-18 "Acts 3:18 - The Fulfillment of Prophecy") masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. Central to the verse is **Prophetic Fulfillment**, where the past declarations of God's prophets are shown to precisely align with the present reality of Christ's suffering. This device serves as powerful evidence for Jesus' messianic identity and the reliability of God's Word. There is also a strong element of **Divine Sovereignty**, as the verse explicitly states that "God before had shewed" and "he hath so fulfilled," attributing the entire sequence of events, including Christ's suffering, to God's deliberate and controlling hand. This emphasizes God's ultimate authority over history and human actions. Furthermore, the verse presents a profound **Paradox**: the Messiah, traditionally envisioned as a conquering hero, is revealed to be a suffering servant. This unexpected truth, though initially a "stumbling block" ([1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "1 Corinthians 1:23 - Christ Crucified, a Stumbling Block")), is presented as the very means by which God's redemptive plan is accomplished.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 3:18 serves as a foundational statement for understanding the nature of God's redemptive plan and the identity of Jesus Christ. It firmly establishes that the crucifixion was not a defeat or an unforeseen tragedy, but the divinely ordained climax of a long-unfolding narrative of salvation, meticulously foretold by God through His prophets. This truth underscores God's absolute sovereignty over history, demonstrating that even the darkest moments are woven into His perfect tapestry of grace. It redefines the Messiah, moving beyond a purely political liberator to reveal the suffering servant whose sacrifice is the necessary means for atonement and reconciliation between God and humanity. This understanding is crucial for grasping the full weight of the Gospel, emphasizing that salvation is entirely God's work, accomplished precisely as He intended.

* [Luke 24:44](/luke/24-44 "Luke 24:44 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures")
* [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant's Atonement")
* [1 Peter 1:10-11](/1_peter/1-10-11 "1 Peter 1:10-11 - Prophetic Revelation of Christ's Suffering and Glory")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 3:18 offers profound comfort and conviction for believers today. In a world often characterized by chaos, suffering, and uncertainty, this verse provides an unshakeable anchor: God is sovereign, and His purposes are unfailing. The fact that Christ's suffering, the most heinous act in human history, was part of God's predetermined plan, assures us that even our personal trials and the world's brokenness are not outside of His control. It deepens our appreciation for the cross, transforming it from a symbol of defeat into the ultimate demonstration of God's love and wisdom, where sin was definitively dealt with. This truth encourages us to trust God's plan even when we don't understand it, to find peace in His sovereignty, and to recognize that His promises, like those concerning Christ's suffering, will always be perfectly fulfilled. It calls us to live with a confident hope, knowing that the same God who fulfilled ancient prophecies will also bring His ultimate redemptive plan to glorious completion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the understanding that Christ's suffering was foretold by God's prophets deepen your appreciation for His sacrifice?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge or affirm your view of God's sovereignty over difficult or painful circumstances in your own life?**
* **How might recognizing the fulfillment of prophecy in Christ's suffering strengthen your faith in the reliability and authority of the Bible?**

### FAQ

**Why was Christ's suffering necessary if God is all-powerful?**

Answer: Christ's suffering was necessary not because God was limited in power, but because it was the divinely ordained means to accomplish atonement for sin and reconcile a holy God with sinful humanity. The Bible teaches that "without shedding of blood there is no remission" of sins ([Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Necessity of Blood Shedding")). God, in His perfect justice, required a perfect, sinless sacrifice to bear the penalty for humanity's sin. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, willingly took on this suffering, fulfilling the Old Testament sacrificial system and providing a once-for-all atonement ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Sacrifice Once for All")). His suffering was not a sign of weakness, but of God's immense love and wisdom in providing a way for salvation that upheld both His justice and His mercy.

**How did "all his prophets" foretell Christ's suffering?**

Answer: The Old Testament prophets, across various books and centuries, provided a consistent, though sometimes veiled, testimony to the Messiah's suffering. While many prophecies focused on His kingly reign, others clearly pointed to His afflictions. Key examples include [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant"), which vividly describes the "suffering servant" who would be "pierced for our transgressions" and "crushed for our iniquities." [Psalm 22](/psalms/22 "Psalm 22 - A Messianic Psalm") details the agony of one forsaken by God, with specific allusions to crucifixion. Other passages, such as [Zechariah 12:10](/zechariah/12-10 "Zechariah 12:10 - Piercing the Messiah") and [Daniel 9:26](/daniel/9-26 "Daniel 9:26 - Messiah Cut Off"), also speak of the Messiah being "cut off" or pierced. Peter's assertion in [Acts 3:18](/acts/3-18 "Acts 3:18 - Prophetic Fulfillment of Christ's Suffering") indicates that a comprehensive reading of "all his prophets" reveals this consistent theme, even if it was misunderstood by many at the time.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 3:18 stands as a powerful declaration of Christ's central role in God's redemptive history, revealing that His suffering was not an unforeseen tragedy but the very heart of divine prophecy and fulfillment. Jesus Himself affirmed this truth, explaining to His disciples after His resurrection that "all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me" ([Luke 24:44](/luke/24-44 "Luke 24:44 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures")). His suffering, culminating in His crucifixion, was the ultimate expression of God's love and justice, the means by which the penalty for humanity's sin was paid. This was the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Through His suffering, death, and subsequent resurrection, Christ "fulfilled" the ancient types and shadows of the Old Testament sacrificial system, becoming the perfect and final sacrifice for sin ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Sacrifice at the End of the Ages")). His suffering was the path to glory, a truth echoed by Peter in [1 Peter 1:11](/1_peter/1-11 "1 Peter 1:11 - The Spirit of Christ in the Prophets"), who speaks of the prophets foretelling "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." Thus, Acts 3:18 points us directly to Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One, whose suffering was not a sign of weakness but the very power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ([Romans 1:16](/romans/1-16 "Romans 1:16 - The Power of the Gospel")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 53:1

¶ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Acts 2:23

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

Acts 26:22

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

Acts 26:23

That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Luke 24:26

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?