Acts 3:22 – For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.’

Extended Explanation of the Verse

In this verse, Peter is quoting Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses spoke of a future prophet whom God would raise up for Israel. Peter is telling his Jewish audience that this prophecy has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Moses was the greatest prophet in Jewish history. He led Israel out of Egypt, received the Law from God, and served as a mediator between God and the people. But Moses himself told Israel to expect another prophet who would be like him—but greater.

Peter is emphasizing that Jesus is the one Moses was talking about. Just as Moses delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, Jesus delivers people from the slavery of sin. Just as Moses spoke God’s words, Jesus is the very Word of God (John 1:1).

The command “You must listen to everything he tells you” is a serious one. Peter is warning his audience that ignoring Jesus would be just as dangerous as ignoring Moses’ commands in the Old Testament. If they rejected Jesus, they were rejecting God Himself.

Historical Context

The Jewish people revered Moses as the greatest prophet and leader in their history. He was the one through whom God gave the Ten Commandments and the entire system of worship and sacrifices.

However, Moses himself pointed forward to another prophet—someone greater than himself. The Jews had been waiting for this prophet for centuries. Many false prophets had come and gone, and some even thought John the Baptist might be the one (John 1:21). But Peter is now declaring that Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses’ prophecy.

By quoting Moses, Peter is showing the crowd that believing in Jesus is not a rejection of their Jewish faith, but the fulfillment of it. Jesus is not just another religious teacher—He is the prophet Moses predicted.

Theological Implications

1. Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 18:15 pointed forward to Christ, confirming that the Old and New Testaments tell one connected story.
2. Jesus is greater than Moses. Moses was a faithful servant of God, but Jesus is the Son of God (Hebrews 3:5-6). He is not just another prophet—He is the final and greatest messenger from God.
3. Ignoring Jesus has serious consequences. The command to “listen to everything he tells you” is a call to full obedience. Rejecting Jesus is not just rejecting a religious teacher—it is rejecting the one whom God has sent.
4. Jesus is our mediator. Just as Moses mediated between God and Israel, Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:15). Through Him, we have direct access to God.

Literary Analysis

This verse is structured as a direct quote from Moses, making it a link between the Old and New Testaments.

• “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me” – God Himself is the one who appoints the prophet. This shows that Jesus was chosen and sent by God.
• “From among your own people” – The Messiah would come from Israel. Jesus, being born as a Jew, fulfills this requirement.
• “You must listen to everything he tells you” – This is a command, not a suggestion. Listening to Jesus is essential for salvation.

By using Moses’ words, Peter is showing that Jesus is not a break from Jewish tradition but the fulfillment of it. He is the prophet they had been waiting for, and they must listen to Him.

Biblical Cross-References

• Deuteronomy 18:15 – The original prophecy by Moses: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”
• John 1:45 – Philip tells Nathanael, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth.”
• Hebrews 3:5-6 – “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house.”
• Acts 7:37 – Stephen, later in Acts, also quotes Deuteronomy 18:15 to show that Jesus is the prophet Moses predicted.
• Matthew 17:5 – At the Transfiguration, God the Father says about Jesus, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

1. Jesus is God’s final and greatest messenger. Many people try to listen to different spiritual voices, but God has already given His ultimate Word through Jesus.
2. Listening to Jesus is not optional. Moses commanded the people to obey this prophet. Ignoring Jesus has eternal consequences.
3. God’s plan has always pointed to Jesus. The Bible is not a collection of random stories—from the beginning, everything pointed to Christ.
4. Jesus is our mediator. Just as Moses spoke to God on behalf of Israel, Jesus speaks to God on our behalf today (1 Timothy 2:5).

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

1. God lovingly sent His greatest prophet. He didn’t leave humanity in confusion—He sent Jesus to clearly reveal His will.
2. God speaks to His people. Just as He gave Moses to Israel, He gave Jesus to the world so that we could know Him personally.
3. God’s love is patient. Even though many people ignored Jesus, God continues to call people to listen to His Son and follow Him.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

1. Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses’ prophecy. He is the prophet like Moses, but greater—not just a messenger but the Son of God.
2. Jesus is the perfect mediator. Moses spoke on behalf of the people, but Jesus is the final and perfect mediator between God and man (Hebrews 9:15).
3. Jesus is the ultimate authority. The command “you must listen to him” means that we should obey everything He says.
4. Jesus completes God’s revelation. There is no greater word from God than Jesus Himself (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Do I truly believe that Jesus is the one whom God has sent?
2. Am I actively listening to what Jesus has said, or am I ignoring parts of His teaching?
3. How does knowing that Jesus is the greater Moses deepen my faith?
4. What does it mean to listen to everything Jesus says in my daily life?
5. How can I help others understand that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies?