Acts 3:22-23 22On the one hand, Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brothers like me. You will listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23On the other hand, it will be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
Peter next appeals to more Scripture in his sermon, drawing upon the Law and the Prophets. Verses 22-23 are a quote from Deuteronomy 18:15 and 19. Peter interprets these passages messianically by connecting Jesus to the coming prophet who would be like Moses. Significant in this quotation is that the Messiah will be a prophet. This prophet will be raised up by God, and so the Messiah would come with the authority and power of God. This person would come from the brothers, meaning he would be an Israelite.
The key point that hits home is the last phrase of verse 22 and into verse 23: Israel needs to listen to this person. The problem was that the Jews did not listen, but instead, they crucified the Messiah. Verse 23 makes it even more serious by quoting Leviticus 23:29, in that those who do not listen will be cut off from the people of Israel. The word translated destroyed (exolethreuthēsetai) is a strong word in the Septuagint (quoted by Luke here) that can mean “rooted out” or “separated.” The Messiah will separate the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). Non-believing Israel will be cut off from the olive tree (Romans 11:20). Peter was offering the Jews who heard him a way to avoid God’s judgment. When the gospel is presented and the Holy Spirit brings conviction, the listeners must make a decision to accept the message in faith or face the same fate.
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