Acts 7:37

This is that Moses which said vnto the children of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise vp vnto you of your brethren, like vnto mee: him shall ye heare. Acts 7:37 (KJV)

Acts 7:37 is quoted in the powerful sermon of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stephen delivered his address in response to false accusations, using the history of Israel to demonstrate God’s faithful dealings with His people. The verse points back to the Old Testament prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses foretold that the Lord would raise up a prophet from among the Israelites, a prophet “like unto” him, and that the people must listen to him.

Stephen applies this Messianic promise directly to Jesus Christ. He declares that Jesus, being of Jewish descent—“of your brethren”—fulfills the criteria Moses set forth. By describing Jesus as the “authoritative and final voice of God,” Stephen emphasizes that the promised prophet is not merely a future teacher but the very embodiment of God’s revelation, whose teachings supersede the Mosaic Law.

The application for believers is clear: we are called to heed Jesus’ teachings, listen to His voice, and submit to His authority. Through Christ, God has disclosed the ultimate plan of salvation and reconciliation for humanity. This call to obedience is rooted in the same reverence that Moses demanded of the Israelites when he spoke of the coming prophet.

Stephen’s bold proclamation of Jesus as the fulfillment of Moses’ prophecy cost him his life, as he confronted the religious leaders of his day. His martyrdom underscores the centrality of Christ in the Christian faith and the willingness required to proclaim this truth.

As you study this passage, may your understanding of Jesus’ role as the promised Prophet deepen, and may you be encouraged to follow His teachings with faith, obedience, and a listening heart.