The Meaning of Acts 3:24 Explained

Acts 3:24

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

YLT: and also all the prophets from Samuel and those following in order, as many as spake, did also foretell of these days.

Darby: And indeed all the prophets from Samuel and those in succession after him, as many as have spoken, have announced also these days.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Acts 3:24 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Samuel announced that David would replace Saul ( 1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 15:28; 1 Samuel 28:17; cf. 1 Samuel 16:13), but we have no record that he ever gave an explicitly messianic prophecy. Peter seems to have meant that in announcing David"s reign Samuel was also anticipating Messiah"s reign. The other prophets Peter apparently had in mind were all those who spoke of David"s continuing dynastic rule. Peter"s statement in this verse, by the way, shows that Joshua did not fulfill Moses" prophecy about the coming prophet.

Context Summary

Acts 3:11-26 - Searching Words
Peter's sermon was delivered in the eastern colonnade of the Temple. It derived its name probably from the fact that Solomon's Porch had originally occupied that site. The Apostle argued that the gospel which was given them to proclaim was only the flower of the revelations which had been given them through the prophets. How vast the change wrought in this man by the strength and illumination imparted to him at Pentecost! Why should we not seek to be similarly infilled!
How humble-not by their power! How daring-God had glorified Him whom they slew! What glorious conceptions of Christ-Prince of Life, holy and righteous! What pity for the ignorance of the Jews! The times of refreshing which are to come on this distracted world depend on the repentance and restoration of Israel. The Jew has the first offer of the gospel, as the child of the covenant; but its wide provisions lie open to us all, who by faith have become heirs of the promises made to Abraham. Christ begins His work of benediction for the soul by turning it away from iniquity. "Turn us, O Lord, and we shall be turned!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 3

1  Peter preaching to the people that came to see a lame man restored to his feet,
12  professes the cure to have been wrought by God, and his son Jesus;
13  withal reprehending them for crucifying Jesus;
17  which because they did it through ignorance,
18  and that thereby were fulfilled God's determinate counsel, and the Scriptures,
19  he exhorts them by repentance and faith to seek remission of their sins through Jesus

Greek Commentary for Acts 3:24

From Samuel [απο Σαμουηλ]
Schools of prophets arose in his time, few before him (1 Samuel 3:1). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 3:24

Acts 11:4 Expounded [εχετιτετο]
Imperfect middle of εκτιτημι — ektithēmi to set forth, old verb, but in the N.T. only in Acts (Acts 7:21; Acts 11:4; Acts 18:26; Acts 28:23), a deliberate and detailed narrative “in order” Old word for in succession. In the N.T. only in Luke 1:2; Luke 8:1; Acts 3:24; Acts 11:14; Acts 18:23. Luke evidently considered this defence of Peter important and he preserves the marks of authenticity. It came originally from Peter himself (Acts 11:5, Acts 11:6, Acts 11:15, Acts 11:16). “The case of Cornelius was a test case of primary importance” (Page), “the first great difficulty of the early Church.” Part of the story Luke gives three times (Acts 10:3-6, Acts 10:30-32; Acts 11:13.). See the discussion chapter 10 for details given here. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 3:24 mean?

And all now the prophets from Samuel those subsequently as many as have spoken also have announced the days these
Καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ προφῆται ἀπὸ Σαμουὴλ τῶν καθεξῆς ὅσοι ἐλάλησαν καὶ κατήγγειλαν τὰς ἡμέρας ταύτας

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
προφῆται  prophets 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: προφήτης  
Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things.
Σαμουὴλ  Samuel 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Σαμουήλ  
Sense: the son of Elkanah and Hannah, the last of the judges, a distinguished prophet, and a founder of the prophetic order, he gave the Jews there first kings, Saul, David.
τῶν  those 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
καθεξῆς  subsequently 
Parse: Adverb
Root: καθεξῆς  
Sense: one after another, successively, in order.
ὅσοι  as  many  as 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὅσος  
Sense: as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever.
ἐλάλησαν  have  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
κατήγγειλαν  have  announced 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: καταγγέλλω  
Sense: to announce, declare, promulgate, make known.
ἡμέρας  days 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ταύτας  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.