Acts 3:24

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

Yea {G2532}, and {G1161} all {G3956} the prophets {G4396} from {G575} Samuel {G4545} and {G2532} those that follow after {G2517}, as many as {G3745} have spoken {G2980}, have {G4293} likewise {G2532} foretold {G4293} of these {G5025} days {G2250}.

Indeed, all the prophets announced these days, starting with Sh’mu’el and continuing through all who followed.

Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days.

Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.

Acts 3:24 is part of Peter's powerful second sermon to the Jewish people in Jerusalem, delivered shortly after the miraculous healing of a lame man at the temple. In this verse, Peter emphasizes the profound truth that the events surrounding Jesus Christ—His life, ministry, death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—were not random occurrences but the direct fulfillment of centuries of prophecy.

Context

This verse follows Peter's bold declaration that the very Jesus whom they had rejected and crucified was the Messiah, raised by God. His sermon, recounted in Acts 3:12-26, aims to convict his audience of their sin while also offering them a path to repentance and forgiveness. Peter strategically links the present events to the long-standing prophetic tradition of Israel, asserting that the Messianic era, foretold by God's spokesmen, was now unfolding before their eyes. The mention of "Samuel" is significant, as he represents a pivotal figure in Israel's prophetic history, bridging the period of judges and the establishment of the monarchy, and initiating a new era of prophetic activity after Moses.

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Fulfillment: The primary message is that Jesus is the culmination of all Old Testament prophecies. Peter asserts that every prophet, from Samuel onwards, spoke of "these days"—the era inaugurated by Christ's first coming. This validates Jesus' identity and mission as divinely ordained.
  • Divine Continuity: The verse highlights the seamless continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout history. It demonstrates that God's work in the New Testament era is not a new or separate endeavor but the natural progression and fulfillment of His promises revealed through the prophets of old.
  • Reliability of God's Word: By pointing to the fulfilled prophecies, Peter underscores the absolute trustworthiness of God's spoken word. What God promised through His prophets, He faithfully brought to pass in Jesus Christ.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "have likewise foretold of these days" comes from the Greek word prokatēngeilan (προκατήγγειλαν), which means "to announce beforehand" or "to declare in advance." It signifies a deliberate and specific proclamation, not just a vague prediction. This emphasizes that the prophets were not merely speculating, but were speaking under divine inspiration, revealing God's precise plan for the future, culminating in the person and work of Jesus.

Related Scriptures

Peter's argument here is consistent with his earlier sermon in Acts chapter 2, where he similarly highlights the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Just prior to this verse, Peter directly quotes from the Old Testament, reminding them of Moses' prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15 about a prophet like himself whom they must obey. This shows a consistent pattern of appeals to the Scriptures to prove Jesus' Messiahship and the dawning of the new covenant, which was promised in texts like Jeremiah 31:31.

Practical Application

For believers today, Acts 3:24 serves as a powerful reminder of the Bible's unity and divine inspiration. It strengthens our faith by showing that God's plan is meticulously unfolding through history, leading to Christ. It calls us to recognize Jesus as the central figure of all Scripture, the one toward whom all prophecy points. Furthermore, it echoes the call to repentance, urging us to respond to the good news of Jesus Christ, just as Peter called his original audience to do. Understanding that these "days" were foretold by ancient prophets helps us appreciate the depth and breadth of God's eternal purposes for humanity.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 3:21

    Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

  • Luke 24:27

    And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

  • 1 Samuel 3:20

    And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD.

  • Psalms 99:6

    ¶ Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

  • 1 Samuel 3:1

    ¶ And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there was] no open vision.

  • Acts 13:20

    And after that he gave [unto them] judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

  • Romans 3:21

    But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

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