And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "destroyed from among the people" isn't just about physical death; it signifies a complete exclusion from God's covenant community, a fate more severe than any earthly punishment. Peter uses a vivid, established idiom of the Old Testament to convey that rejecting this Prophet means being cut off from God's promises and protection entirely.
And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is expounding on a miracle he just performed, healing a man born lame, and uses it as a springboard to preach about Jesus. He reminds the crowd that Moses prophesied about a coming Prophet they must listen to, and this verse, quoting and adapting Deuteronomy, warns of severe consequences for ignoring Him. This connects the miraculous healing and Peter's bold preaching directly to the authority and divine appointment of Jesus.
Peter quotes a powerful Old Testament promise, linking obedience to Moses' Law with listening to a future prophet. What does it mean to truly 'hear' God's messengers today?
Peter is directly referencing Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses speaks of a prophet God will raise up from among the people. This prophet is a direct line from God, carrying His authoritative word.
The word 'destroyed' in this verse is strong. What does this ultimate consequence signify for those who refuse to listen?
The consequence for not listening to God's appointed prophet is severe: 'shall be destroyed from among the people.' This isn't a minor slap on the wrist; it speaks to a profound separation and judgment.
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Understand the original words
exolethreūō · Greek Verb
To be utterly cut off or destroyed, often implying exclusion from God's people or eternal judgment for rejecting God’s word and His messenger.
Peter is directly referencing Deuteronomy 18, a foundational text for Jewish identity and law. By applying it to Jesus, he's not introducing a new concept but showing how Jesus fulfills God's long-standing promises and warnings about obedience.
c. 1400 BC
The Law Given at Sinai
God establishes the covenant with Israel, including laws for worship and community life. The concept of being 'cut off from the people' for disobedience is introduced.
c. 900-400 BC
The Prophets Speak
A succession of prophets deliver God's messages to Israel, often calling for repentance and faithfulness to the covenant. Many prophesy about a future deliverer.
c. 700 BC
Deuteronomy Written
Moses' final words are compiled, including the passage Peter quotes about a prophet like Moses and the consequences of not obeying him.
c. 400 BC - AD 1
The Silent Centuries
A period with no new prophetic revelations, creating anticipation among many Jews for God's promised intervention and the coming of the Messiah.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Ministry and Ascension
Jesus proclaims God's kingdom, performs miracles, and is crucified and resurrected. He then ascends to heaven, promising the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 33— this verse
Pentecost and Early Church Growth
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the birth of the Church and the preaching of the Gospel. Peter powerfully addresses the crowds in Jerusalem.
This is the foundational Old Testament passage that Peter is quoting and applying directly to Jesus, highlighting that obeying this prophet is a divine command with serious consequences for disobedience.
John 3:18This passage explains that belief in Jesus is the determining factor for salvation, directly echoing the consequence of not listening to the prophet mentioned in Acts 3:23.
Hebrews 1:1-2This passage emphasizes that God's final and most complete revelation is through His Son, Jesus, thereby underscoring why not listening to Him carries such ultimate weight.
Matthew 17:5This verse records God's direct command from the cloud at the Transfiguration, 'Listen to him!' This divine endorsement amplifies the seriousness of Peter's warning in Acts 3:23.
Malachi 4:4-6This passage points towards a future prophet (John the Baptist) and the coming Day of the Lord, showing how the prophetic line ultimately converges on Christ and the judgment for rejecting Him.
barnesActs 3:23: "And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people."
And it shall come to pass - It shall be, or shall occur. This is not the usual word rendered "it shall come to pass." It is a word commonly expressing "futurity," but here it conveys the notion of "obligation." In this verse Peter has not quoted the passage in Deuteronomy literally, but he has given the sense. Every soul - Every "person" or "individual." Soul is o…
calvinActs 3:22-24: "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you."
- Moses truly said unto the fathers, The Lord your God shall raise up a Prophet unto you of your brethren, [like unto me;] him shall ye hear, according to all things which he shall speak unto you. 23. And it shall come to pass, that every soul which shall not hear that Prophet shall be destr…
The phrase "destroyed from among the people" isn't just about physical death; it signifies a complete exclusion from God's covenant community, a fate more severe than any earthly punishment. Peter uses a vivid, established idiom of the Old Testament to convey that rejecting this Prophet means being cut off from God's promises and protection entirely.
Peter is expounding on a miracle he just performed, healing a man born lame, and uses it as a springboard to preach about Jesus. He reminds the crowd that Moses prophesied about a coming Prophet they must listen to, and this verse, quoting and adapting Deuteronomy, warns of severe consequences for ignoring Him. This connects the miraculous healing and Peter's bold preaching directly to the authority and divine appointment of Jesus.
Peter is expounding on a miracle he just performed, healing a man born lame, and uses it as a springboard to preach about Jesus. He reminds the crowd that Moses prophesied about a coming Prophet they must listen to, and this verse, quoting and adapting Deuteronomy, warns of severe consequences for ignoring Him. This connects the miraculous healing and Peter's bold preaching directly to the authority and divine appointment of Jesus.
"And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’" — The phrase "destroyed from among the people" isn't just about physical death; it signifies a complete exclusion from God's covenant community, a fate more severe than any earthly punishment. Peter us…
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Last reviewed October 2026