Acts 3:24 – “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.”

Extended Explanation of the Verse

Peter continues his sermon to the crowd at the temple, explaining that Jesus is the fulfillment of everything the prophets have spoken about. In this verse, he refers to Samuel and all the prophets who came after him, saying that they all pointed forward to “these days”—meaning the time of Jesus, His death and resurrection, and the coming of His kingdom.

Samuel was a key figure in Israel’s history. He was the prophet who anointed David as king and helped establish the royal line from which Jesus, the Messiah, would eventually come. But Peter says that it wasn’t just Samuel—all the prophets have been pointing toward Jesus. This means that God’s plan of salvation has been clear throughout history and has now been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

By using the phrase “these days,” Peter is referring to the time of Jesus’ ministry and the new era of salvation that began with His resurrection. He is telling his audience that they are living in the days that the prophets longed to see and spoke about.

Historical Context

In Jewish tradition, the prophets were highly respected because they were God’s messengers. The Jews knew about Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others who had spoken about the coming Messiah and the restoration of Israel.

Samuel was especially significant because he:

• Was a transitional figure between the time of the judges and the kings.
• Anointed David as king, and God promised that David’s kingdom would last forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
• Was seen as one of the first major prophets after Moses.

The Jewish people had been waiting for the fulfillment of these prophecies, expecting the Messiah to come and establish God’s kingdom. Peter is declaring that this has now happened through Jesus.

Many in the crowd may have known about the prophecies of a coming king, a suffering servant, and a restored kingdom, but they had not yet understood that Jesus was the fulfillment of these promises.

Theological Implications

1. The entire Old Testament points to Jesus. Peter makes it clear that from Samuel onward, all the prophets were preparing the way for Christ. This means that Jesus is not just a New Testament figure—He is the focus of the entire Bible.
2. God’s plan of salvation is consistent. The message of Jesus was not a new idea—it had been God’s plan all along. From the earliest prophets to the time of Jesus, God was working toward this moment.
3. God keeps His promises. The fact that everything happened as the prophets foretold proves that God is faithful. If He fulfilled these prophecies, we can trust Him to fulfill His future promises.
4. Jesus is the key to understanding Scripture. The Old Testament makes sense only when seen through the lens of Jesus Christ. Without Him, the prophets’ words are incomplete.

Literary Analysis

This verse uses historical continuity to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of all prophecy.

• “Beginning with Samuel” – Samuel is used as a starting point, representing the time when the monarchy (and the promise of a coming king) began.
• “All the prophets who have spoken” – This emphasizes that Jesus was not just mentioned in a few prophecies—He was the central focus of all prophetic writings.
• “Have foretold these days” – The phrase “these days” refers to the time of Jesus’ ministry and the new covenant that began with His resurrection.

Peter is showing that Jesus is not an afterthought—He is the culmination of everything God had promised.

Biblical Cross-References

• Luke 24:27 – “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Jesus Himself showed that the prophets had always pointed to Him.
• 2 Samuel 7:12-16 – God’s promise to David: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me.” Jesus, as the Son of David, fulfills this prophecy.
• Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For to us a child is born… He will reign on David’s throne.” Another prophecy fulfilled in Jesus.
• Acts 10:43 – “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Peter later repeats this same idea.
• Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

1. The Bible is a unified story that points to Jesus. The Old and New Testaments are not separate books with different messages—they tell one consistent story about God’s plan for salvation.
2. Faith in Jesus is not a new idea. Some people today think Christianity is just another religion, but Peter reminds us that Jesus was foretold long before He arrived.
3. We can trust God’s promises. If God was faithful to fulfill the prophecies about Jesus, we can be confident that He will fulfill His promises to us as well.
4. We need to study the Old Testament. Many Christians focus only on the New Testament, but understanding the prophets helps us appreciate Jesus even more.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

1. God has always had a plan to save us. He did not come up with the idea of sending Jesus at the last moment—He planned it from the beginning and revealed it through the prophets.
2. God communicates with His people. He did not leave humanity in the dark—He sent prophets to prepare the way so that people could recognize the Messiah when He came.
3. God’s love is patient and faithful. Even though it took generations for Jesus to come, God was faithfully working out His plan of redemption.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

1. Jesus is the fulfillment of all prophecy. From Samuel to the last prophet, every message pointed to Jesus as the Messiah.
2. Jesus is the King in David’s line. Samuel anointed David, and Jesus is the ultimate Son of David who reigns forever (Luke 1:32-33).
3. Jesus is the center of God’s plan. Peter is making it clear that Jesus is not just an important figure—He is the central purpose of all Scripture.
4. Jesus is the climax of history. The prophets looked forward to the day of the Messiah, and we now live in the time of His fulfillment.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Do I see the Bible as one unified story that points to Jesus, or do I see the Old and New Testaments as separate?
2. How can I deepen my understanding of Old Testament prophecy and its connection to Jesus?
3. Do I trust that God’s promises will come true, just as He fulfilled His promises about Jesus?
4. How can I use biblical prophecy to share the gospel with others?
5. What does it mean for my faith that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that the prophets foretold?