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Albert Barnes · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Barnes - You denied, despised, and murdered him; but God has exalted and honored him. This miracle was done in the name of Jesus, Acts 3:6. It was the power of God that had restored him; and by putting forth this power God had shown that he approved the work of his Son, and was disposed to honour him in the view of men. Comp. John 17:1, Ephesians 1:20-22, Philippians 2:9-11 Hebrews 2:9, Revelation 1:5-18. NET NOTE on has glorified - Jesus is alive, raised and active, as the healing illustrates so dramatically how God honors him. Let's dig a little deeper on this specific Messianic title of Jesus "His Servant" and see why the Jewish audience would have (or at least should have) been familiar with this Title of Jesus. Remember that Peter is speaking to Jews who would be familiar with the Old Testament including the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew. So Peter begins by associating the God of our fathers with a designation that a Jewish hearer would identify as one of the Old Testament names or descriptions for the Messiah. And so Peter describes Jesus as the God's Servant, using an unusual word for servant (not the familiar doulos as Paul refers to himself in Titus 1:1 "a servant [doulos] of God"). The word Peter uses is the Greek noun pais which is used 25 times in the NT with about 8 uses referring to children and 15 uses referring to a servant and in secular Greek referred to an especially intimate and trusted servant. Pais describes several different servants - David (Lk 1:69; Acts 4:25; Lxx - 2 Sa 7:5, 8, 19, 20, 21, 25), Israel (Lk 1:54) but most importantly Jesus the Messiah. The KJV actually translates Acts 3:13 as "His Son Jesus," which is not bad because Jesus is the "Servant Son" (so both translation of pais would apply to Him. Most modern versions prefer to translate it as "Servant Jesus.") What would have made Peter's use of pais so interesting to his Jewish audience was the fact that there are at least two well-known uses in Isaiah in which he speaks prophetically of the Messiah as God's Servant, and in both passages, servant is translated pais. A T
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Barnes - By means of faith in Him; that is, by the faith which Peter and John had in Jesus. It does not refer to any faith that the man had himself, for there is no evidence that he believed in him; but it was by means of the faith which the apostles exercised in him that the miracle was wrought, and was thus a fulfillment of the declaration in Matthew 17:20. (Barnes' Notes on the New Testament) Moody Bible Commentary on faith in this passage - Peter took no credit for the healing. After the resurrection, Jesus’ name possessed the same power as the name of God. The lame man’s spiritual condition prior to the healing is not stated in the text. His healing was not a result of his faith, and in fact he did not even expect to be healed. The primary function of miracles in Acts is Christological—to prove that Jesus was alive and thus Israel’s promised Messiah. William Larkin says "by faith (both the apostles’ and the beggar’s—compare Acts 14:8–10) in the name of Jesus (that is, Jesus himself present in his resurrection power; compare 1 Kings 8:27–30), this man … was made strong. Literally, the Greek says, “Based on faith in his name this one … his name strengthened.” “Faith is the manner and Jesus’ name is the cause of the man’s restoration” (Kistemaker 1990:130). In the end all is from Jesus, for faith is present not only as a human activity (faith in the name of Jesus) but also as a divine gift (faith … through him). And today the economy is the same. There is no room for relying on manipulative, magical technique. All Jesus asks us to bring is humble dependence lived out in prayer and faith (Jas 5:14)." (IVP NT Commentary - Acts) Marvin Vincent on by faith (or through faith) - Note the article: the faith which we had (PETER AND JOHN); not the cripple's faith, which was not demanded as a condition of his cure. Through faith (epi) is rather on account of, or on the basis of. (Word Studies in the New Testament) Paul Apple - Whose faith is referenced here? Definitely faith required on the part of Peter and John to look to the Lord for His work of healing But what about the lame man ... any faith involved on his part? Bock: The lame man’s response to his healing shows that he did respond to what God had done and was thankful for it. (The Spread of the Gospel) Kistemaker - The question we must ask is whether Peter speaks about the faith of the apostles or the faith of the cripple. The answer, of course, is that both the apostles and the beggar had faith. Peter and John performed the miracle only because they fully trusted Jesus to give them the power to heal. The lame man also trusted the Lord to heal him, even if Luke refrains from suggesting anything about his faith at the time the miracle took place (Acts 3:3–7)....Faith in the name of Jesus calls forth a response from the beggar, who extends his right hand to Peter and realizes that his feet and ankles are strong. With this evidence, which everyone in the audience can see, Peter is now at the point of asking the Jews to put their faith in Jesus. (Baker NT Commentary - Acts) Horton - The man's faith that came through Jesus gave him this complete healing, this freedom from all bodily defect, in the presence of them all. It is also possible that the apostles' faith is meant here, and that the healing caused the man to put his faith in Jesus. (Acts: A Logion Press Commentary) Some like Stanley Touissant feel "The crippled man’s healing came because of his faith in the name of Jesus. Faith was also evident in many of those whom Jesus healed (e.g., Mark 5:34; 10:52; Luke 17:19)" (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Thomas Constable agrees writing that "Peter attributed the beggar’s healing to the power of Jesus and to the man’s trust in what he knew about Jesus. Jesus had given him faith. If the beggar had had no confidence in the deity and divine power of Jesus, he would not have responded to Peter’s invitation to walk (v. 6)." (Acts 3 Commentary) John
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Barnes on ignorance - Peter does not mean to affirm that they were innocent in having put him to death, for he had just proved the contrary; and he immediately proceeds to exhort them to repentance. But he means to say that that offence was mitigated by the fact that they were ignorant that he was the Messiah. The same thing the Saviour himself affirmed when dying. Luke 23:34. (Cp. Acts 13:27, 1 Cor 2:8). The same thing the apostle Paul affirmed in relation to himself, as one of the reasons why he obtained pardon from the enormous crime of persecution (1 Ti 1:13 = " I acted ignorantly in unbelief.") In cases like these, though crime might be mitigated, yet it was not taken entirely away. They were guilty of demanding a man to be murdered who was declared innocent; they were urged on with ungovernable fury (Lk 23:21+); they did it from contempt and malice; and the crime of murder remained, though they were ignorant that he was the Messiah. (Ibid) Just as your rulers did also - In 1 Co 2:8 Paul says "the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Barnes on your rulers - They had expected a prince and a conqueror. All their views of the Messiah were different from the character which Jesus manifested. And though they might have known that he was the Messiah; though he had given abundant proof of the fact, yet it is clear that they did not believe it. It is not credible that they would have put to death one whom they really believed to be the Christ. He was the hope, the only hope of their nation; and they would not have dared to imbrue their hands in the blood of him whom they really believed to be the illustrious personage so long promised, and expected by their fathers. (Ibid) Rulers (officials) (758)(archon from present participle of archo = to rule) describes one who has eminence in a ruling capacity, including Jewish leaders (Acts 23:5 = high priest, Lk 8:41 = "an official of the synagogue;" Mt 9:18, 23= ruler over a synagogue) and members of the Sanhedrin (Lk 18:18, 23:13, 35, 24:20). Millard Erickson on ignorance - One of the New Testament words stressing a cause of sin is agnoia. A combination of a Greek verb meaning “to know” (ginōskō, from gnoō) and the alpha privative, it is related to the English word agnostic. Together with its cognates it is used in the Septuagint to render the verbs שָׁגׇה (shagah) and שָׁגַג (shagag), which basically mean “to err.” Its immediate derivation is from agnoeō, “to be ignorant”. This word is often used in settings where it means innocent ignorance (Ro. 1:13; 2 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 1:22). Some things done in ignorance were apparently innocent in the sight of God, or at least he overlooked them (Acts 17:30). Yet at other points ignorant actions seem to be culpable. Ephesians 4:18 says of the Gentiles: “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” In two passages, Acts 3:17 and 1 Peter 1:14, it is questionable whether the ignorance is culpable or innocent. In the former, however, Peter’s immediate appeal to his hearers to repent would suggest responsibility. The one instance of ἀγνόημα is in Hebrews 9:7, referring to the annual visit of the high priest into the Holy of Holies in order to offer sacrifice both for himself and “for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.” These errors or ignorances apparently were such that the people were liable to punishment for them. This was willful ignorance—the people could have known the right course to follow, but chose not to know it. (Christian Theology) Acts 3:18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. KJV Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. the things which God announced beforehand Acts 17:2,3; 26:22,23; 28:23; Luke 24:26,27,44; 1 Cor 15:3,4; 1 Pe 1:10,11; Rev 19:10 all the prophets Ge 3:15; Ps 22:1-30; 69:1-36; Isa 50:6; 53:1-12; Daniel 9:26; Zech 12:10; Zech 13:7 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOD'S CHRIST JESUS THE MESSIAH But the things - What things? The things which actually did occur, specifically in regard to the suffering of the Messiah. Peter goes on to say that these things were not unexpected, but were part of God's predeternined, predestined plan (cf Acts 2:23+, Acts 4:27, 28+). Paul Apple reminds us that the Jews "stumbled over the cross (1 Cor. 1:22-24) – could not stomach a suffering Messiah – so Peter goes right to the heart of their objection and proves that the sufferings of Christ were consistent with OT prophecies and should have been expected – further intensifying their guilt for rejecting Jesus....The point that especially tripped them up was the aspect of the Suffering of Christ before entering into His glory – this was a necessity and it was literally and completely fulfilled; giving us indication of how prophecies about His Second Coming in glory will be fulfilled." (The Spread of the Gospel) Kent adds "The offense of the cross was the great obstacle to Jewish acceptance of Jesus as the Christ." Which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets - So not only was Jesus THE Prophet, He was the One about whom all the other prophets had prophesied. This passage speaks of God's sovereign, foreordained plan. The ignorance of the Jews was used by God just as He had prophesied. After Peter told them they murdered the only One Who could save them, he says God sovereignly allowed them to kill Him. Notice the phrase God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets clearly speaks of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, from God's Spirit, through God's prophets, to the written Word. Fulfilled prophecy is a strong defense of the inspiration of Scripture! Keep in mind that at the time of Acts, the only written Scriptures were the Old Testament, so it was in those writings the fate of Messiah was foretold (cf Lk 24:25-27+). Related Resource: How can we trust that Biblical prophecy can indeed predict the future? Announced beforehand (4293)(prokataggello from pro = before + kataggello = announce, proclaim) literally means to "declare down" before, to foretell (of prophetic utterance) or announce openly with wide distribution. It means to announce before it happens and to declare plainly, openly and loudly! The root verb kataggello was used of solemn religious messages. The only other use (none in Lxx) is by Stephen in Acts 7:52 who boldly asked the Jews "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become." What a difference a day makes! Peter's similar words brought salvation to many, whereas Stephen's words brought martyrdom! Prophets (4396)(prophetes from próphemi = literally to tell beforehand in turn from pró = before, in front of, forth, on behalf of + phemí = speak, tell) is primarily a forth-teller or one who speaks out God’s message, primarily to their own generation, usually always calling the people to God's truth for them at that moment, often using the phrase "Thus saith the Lord." In the present context the while the OT prophets were clearly forth tellers, here Luke focuses on their before telling of events concerning the Messiah. That His Christ (Messiah) would suffer He has thus fulfilled - Note "His Christ". Whose "Christ?" Clearly Peter says He is God's One Who has been anointed for ministry. Approximately 25% of God's Word was prophecy at the time it was written, and of that prophecy, about 80% has been fulfilled, this prediction that Messiah would suffer of course referring to Jesus' death. As an aside there is still about 20% of prophecy remaining to be fulfilled. If 80% was fulfilled literally, you can be sure the remaining 20% will be LITERALLY fulfilled (which is why allegorical interpretation or spiritualization of OT prophecies is to be assiduously avoided! Sadly, many in the modern church have willingly accepted the prophecies of Jesus first coming as literal, but fail to hold to the same hermeneutical standard regarding many of the events surrounding His Second Coming! The result is great confusion about prophecy and almost a fear to even diligently study clearly prophetic passages (using a literal approach)! So here Peter says that God through His prophets had prophesied in the Old Testament that Messiah would suffer and die, which of course implies He had to become a Man in order to die. (see Ge 3:15; Ps 22:1-30; 69:1-36; Isa 50:6; 53:1-12; Daniel 9:26; Zech 12:10; Zech 13:7) Suffer (3958) (pascho) means essentially what happens to a person. It means to experience a sensation from an outside source, to undergo an experience (usually difficult) and normally with the implication of physical (or psychological) suffering, in this context of course referring to the suffering of Messiah on the Cross and the horrible mistreatment that immediately preceded His crucifixion. Although Luke uses the Greek word Christos for Christ, keep in mind that many if not most of the uses of Christos are synonymous with the term Messiah. For that reasons a number of Bible translations often use the term Messiah even when the Greek word is Christos (e.g., NLT, GWT, NRSV and CSB all translate Christos as "Messiah" in Acts 3:18). Christ (Messiah)(5547)(Christos from chrio = to rub or anoint, consecrate to an office) means one who has been anointed, symbolizing appointment to a task. The majority of the NT uses refer to Jesus (exceptions = "false Christs" - Mt 24:24, Mk 13:22). Many interpreters over the ages have commented on a possible wordplay between the Greek words for good (chrestos) and Christ (Christos), which as you note differ by only a single Greek letter. Whether a wordplay is intended or not, every believer can personally attest to the truth that Christos is chrestos! The Septuagint occasionally uses Christos to prophetically refer to the coming Messiah. And so in Psalm 2:2 David wrote that "The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed (Hebrew = mashiach/masiah; Lxx = Christos) (Young's Literal = "against His Messiah" Ps 2:2YLT) Related Resource: Greek word for Messiah = messias Later in his first letter Peter wrote about the prophets who prophesied of Messiah's suffering As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.(1 Pe 1:10,11+) GOD FULFILLED THE PROPHECIES OF HIS SUFFERING SERVANT He has thus fulfilled - God's "batting average" is 100% fulfilled. The fulfillment was not by chance, but by God's sovereign hand. Of course, Peter is not saying they could use this as an excuse for their sins, for they were still personally responsible for their actions. Fulfilled (4137) is the verb (pleroo) which literally conveys the idea of totality or a completed state. Here pleroo speaks of God's promises and prophecies as having come to full and final fruition. It is the same word Luke uses to describe the Church in Acts 13:52 writing "the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." God prophesied Messiah would suffer (Ps 22, Ps 69, Isaiah 53) and that prophecy has been completely, perfectly fulfilled. It is amazing that God was able to use men's negative response to Messiah to bring about a positive result (cf Ge 50:20). Is there some negative situation in your life dear follower of Christ which you think God could not bring about a positive result in some manner? John
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Barnes has an interesting comment on what Peter meant by the phrase Whom heaven must receive - The common belief of the Jews was, that the Messiah would reign on the earth for ever, John 12:34. On this account they would object that Jesus could not be the Messiah, and hence it became so important for the apostles to establish the fact that he had ascended to heaven. The evidence which they adduced was the fact that they saw Him ascend, Acts 1:9. The meaning of the expression, "whom the heaven MUST receive," is that it was fit or proper dei that He should ascend. One reason of that fitness or propriety He Himself stated in John 16:7 (cp. John 17:2). It was also fit or expedient that He should do it, to...exercise there his office as a Priest in interceding for his people (1 Jn 2:1,2, Heb 7:25, 9:24 Ro 8:34, etc). It is remarkable that Peter did not adduce any passage of Scripture on this subject (THE ASCENSION); but it was one of the points on which there was no clear revelation. Obscure intimations of it might be found in Psalm 16, etc., but the fact that he should ascend to heaven was not made prominent in the Old Testament. The words, "whom the heaven must receive," also convey the idea of exaltation and power; and Peter doubtless intended to say that he was clothed with power, and exalted to honor in the presence of God. (See Ps 115:3; cf 1 Peter 3:22, Acts 2:33). Must (1163)(dei from deo = to bind or tie objects together, put in prison and also root of doulos, bond-servant) refers to what is not optional but needful (binding) out of intrinsic necessity or inevitability. Dei refers to inward constraint which is why it is often translated "must". Dei describes that which is under the necessity of happening or which must necessarily take place, and as stated above, conveys a sense of inevitability. Receive (1209)(dechomai) means to accept with a deliberate and ready reception. In the case of the Messiah Who has "having accomplished the work which" His Father had assigned to Him (Jn 17:4) was welcomed with "open arms" into Heaven. Until - This expression of time means the present state of Israel will continue, but not forever in unbelief. The new day is coming for Israel. When the Messiah returns and establishes His Kingdom on earth the "until" will be turned into a "then" so to speak. And not just Israel will be affected, but Peter says there will be a restoration of all things! And what is the "key" that unlocks this "until" changing it to a "then?" WHEN Israel repents and returns, THEN Messiah returns and what the disciples had asked Jesus in Acts 1:6+ will be consummated. Recall their question to Jesus was "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring (apokathistemi) the Kingdom to Israel?” And note that the word restoring is the root of the very word Peter uses here (apokatastasis) in Acts 3:21. This is not an accident! Peter's inspired words promising restoration are without question an answer to Acts 1:6. At the return of Christ, conditions will be "restored" to an idyllic state, presumably similar to the Garden of Eden, and yet even in these "near perfect" conditions with a Perfect Reigning Messiah, men are still born into sin and rebel against the Messiah ["nations" in Rev 20:8+]. Peter is not describing the the new heavena and the new earth, which follow Christ's 1000 year reign when "heaven and earth fled away" (Rev 20:11+, Rev 21:1+). The reference to restoration of all things is to the millennial kingdom. Jesus' disciples were interested to know when this time would come to pass (Mt 24:3+, Acts 1:6+). The period of restoration of all things - Peter is not saying all souls will be restored or saved as is taught in the false doctrine of universalism. (e.g., Mt 25:41). For example, Mormons say this passage points to a restoration of the church (through Joseph Smith) following total apostasy. Horton - The time of restoration refers to the coming age, the Millennium, when God will restore and renew, and Jesus will reign personally on the earth. The prophesied restoration includes a further outpouring of the Spirit on the restored kingdom. (Acts: A Logion Press Commentary) John
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Barnes says "The authority of Moses among the Jews was absolute and final. It was of great importance, therefore, to show not only that they were not departing from his Law, but that he had actually foretold these very things. The object of the passage is to prove that...He was truly the Messiah." (Note) THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN - Peter is quoting from Dt 18:15 a passage that was familiar to his audience, one that they should have understood as a prophecy of the Messiah. We see that throughout Jesus' ministry Jews questioned whether He was the Prophet about Whom Moses had prophesied. (Jn 1:21) They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” (Jn 1:25) They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (Jn 6:14) Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Comment - Jesus' miraculous provision of bread would have reminded the Jews of the "manna" God provided in the wilderness journey and in this context the Jews considered Him to be the Prophet, i.e., the Messiah, but their subsequent withdrawal demonstrated (Jn 6:66) they did not understand what "Messiah" really meant. They were looking for an earthly provider and one who would deliver them from the rule of Rome and not from the bondage of sin! And so they clearly did not recognize Jesus as God, nor the purpose for which He came. (Jn 7:40) Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet. Adam
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Barnes says "On this account it was to be presumed that they would feel a deeper interest in him, and listen more attentively to his instructions." TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you - Give heed is the verb that normally means to hear (akouō), but in this context is used to indicate that the Jews were not just to hear Jesus speak, but to obey what He spoke. To heed in English means "to pay close attention to" or "to consider someone's advice or warning and do what they suggest" (MacMillian British Dictionary) That was true for Israel then and it is true for us today, so as we "hear" Jesus speak in the Scriptures, we are "heed" what we hear. This call to hear and heed reminds us of Jesus' warning at the end of His Sermon on the Mount (the words the Jewish crowd had just heard)... "Therefore everyone who hears (akouō) these words of Mine, and acts upon them (HEEDS THEM!), may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. 25 "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. 26 “Everyone who hears (akouō) these words of Mine and does not act on them (DOES NOT HEED THEM!), will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell–and great was its fall.” (Mt 7:24-27+) NET Note adds that give heed is the Greek verb "hear, but the idea of “hear and obey” or simply “obey” is frequently contained in the Greek verb (akouō) and the following context (v. 23) makes it clear that failure to “obey” the words of this “prophet like Moses” will result in complete destruction. Acts 3:23 'And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' KJV Acts 3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. that every soul Acts 13:38-41; Dt 18:19; Mark 16:16; John 3:18-20; 8:24; 12:48; 2 Th 1:7-9; Heb 2:3; 10:28-30,39; 12:25; Rev 13:8; 20:15 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries REJECTION OF JESUS IS ETERNALLY FATAL And it will be that every soul that does not heed that Prophet - Peter has boldly proclaimed the good news and now warns the Jews that if they failed to believe in the Prophet, Jesus Christ, the only alternative was to experience eternal separation from those who did enter the New Covenant. They must heed His warnings such as in the Gospel of John Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (Jn 8:24) He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. (Jn 12:48) A T
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Barnes has a solemn, sobering comment on this verse - To be destroyed from among the (JEWISH) people means, however, to be excommunicated, or to be deprived of the privileges of the people. Among the Jews this was probably the most severe punishment that could be inflicted. It involved the idea of being cut off from the privileges of sacrifice and worship in the temple and in the synagogue, etc., and of being regarded as a pagan and an outcast. The idea that Peter expressed here was, that the Jews had exposed themselves to the severest punishment in rejecting and crucifying the Lord Jesus, and that they should, therefore, repent of this great sin, and seek for mercy. The same remark is applicable to all people. The Scriptures abundantly declare the truth, that if sinners will not hear the Lord Jesus, they shall be destroyed. And it behooves each individual to inquire with honesty whether he listens to His instructions and obeys His Law, or whether he is rejecting Him and following the devices and desires of his own heart. It will be a solemn day when the sinner shall be called to render a reason why he has rejected the teachings and laws of the Son of God! (Notes) Acts 3:24 "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. KJV Acts 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. all the prophets who have spoken Acts 3:19,21; Ro 3:21 Samuel Acts 13:20; 1 Samuel 2:18; 3:1,20; Ps 99:6; Jer 15:1 Acts 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries He has just mentioned Moses and now skips several centuries to Samuel as there were few (if any) prophets between these two prophets. Horton adds that "Samuel was the next great prophet after Moses (1 Sa 3:20). From that time on, all the prophets "foretold these days," that is, the days of God's work through Christ. Some may not have given specific prophecies in their writings, but all of them gave prophecies that led up to or prepared for these days." (Acts: A Logion Press Commentary) And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward - What is Peter saying? Basically, he is saying that the OT prophets spoke about the ministry of the Messiah Who would come to Israel and offer them salvation not from Rome but from their sin. And yet they rejected His clear witness that fulfilled over 300 Messianic prophecies! In short, the Jews sinned against a "flood of light," which is why those who never believed in Him will suffer a greater degree of eternal punishment than an African native who never believed in Him! (cf Mt 11:21-24) A T Robertson on from Samuel - Schools of prophets arose in his time, few before him (1 Samuel 3:1). Also announced these days - What days? In context the days of Messiah's first advent (when God would raise up a Prophet like Moses - Acts 3:22) and all that His ministry in Israel entailed. See also Acts 3:18+ "the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets." Jesus Himself made a similar statement declaring "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (John 5:39) On the Road to Emmaus after His resurrection Jesus rebuked the two were walking with Him... And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27) Announced (proclaimed) (2605)(kataggello from kata = an intensifier, down + aggelos = messenger and aggello = to declare, report) literally means to "declare down". It means to announce, with focus upon the extent to which the announcement or proclamation extends and so to proclaim throughout. It means to declare plainly, openly and loudly! It was used of solemn religious messages, in this case the messages of the OT prophets. Thomas