Acts 3:23

"For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you."

Key Reflection

In first-century Israel, when this statement from Acts 3:23 was spoken, it drew directly from a well-known passage in Deuteronomy (Deut. 18:15). Moses here is addressing the Israelites and foretelling that God would raise up another prophet like himself—someone who would speak with divine authority and whose words must be heeded by the people. The original audience would have understood this as a prophecy of a future leader or teacher, emphasizing the continuity of their faith through such a figure who would guide them in all matters.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 23. And it shall come to pass. It shall be or shall occur. This is not the usual word rendered "it shall come to pass." It is a word commonly expressing futurity, but here it conveys the notion of obligation. In this verse Peter has not quoted the passage in Deuteronomy literally, but he has given the sense. Every soul. Every person, or individual. Soul is often put for the whole man by the Hebrews, Ac 7:14; Jos 10:28. Hear that prophet. That is, obey his instructions. He shall have authority to declare the will of God; and he that does not obey him refuses to obey God. Comp. Lu 10:16; Joh 13:20. Shall be destroyed. This quotation, is made according to the sense, and not literally.

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