Acts 3:22

“Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up to you from among your brethren, like to me. To him shall you listen in all things whatever he shall speak to you.”

Peter's thoughts now turn to justifying his position further in the light of Scripture, by showing Whom it is that they have crucified (the Holy and Righteous One) by declaring that Jesus was the Prophet who had been promised by Moses. He does this firstly by introducing the idea of the Great Prophet promised by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15, then by stating that all the prophets pointed ahead to Him, and connects Him with the idea of Abraham, through whom the whole world was to be blessed. He clearly sees the Messiah and ‘the Prophet' as synonymous. Many people in those days expected the coming of a Great Prophet (Mark 6:15; Mark 8:28; John 1:21), who would introduce the blessing of Abraham, and some saw him as synonymous with the Messiah. Peter was in no doubt on the matter.

The citation is taken from Deuteronomy 18:15. His point is that Jesus is that prophet Whom God has raised up who is ‘like Moses'. No one was held in greater esteem in first century Judaism than Moses. He was exalted above all men. But men were interpreting Deuteronomy 18:15 as indicating the rise of another Prophet of equal status. And now here had come the promised new coming Moses. Let them therefore remember God's command that they listen to all that He says to them. They had failed to listen previously, but now they have a further opportunity. Let them therefore listen to Him now. For just as those who did not listen to Moses were to be cut off (Exodus 32:33) so now those who will not listen to Jesus will be cut off.

The idea of Jesus as a prophet is common to Luke's writings. Compare Luke 4:16; Luke 7:16; Luke 7:39; Luke 13:33; Luke 24:19.

It may be noted that the citation from Deuteronomy 18:15 follows neither LXX or MT. It is, however, fairly close to quotations, presumably taken from a current Hebrew text, which are found in Qumranic literature. Alternatively it may instead simply have arisen from Peter citing from a collection of texts or as a paraphrase. The sense is unchanged.