Acts 3:24

all the prophets from Samuel To other prophecies St Peter only makes a general reference. We learn (Midrash Shemuel, c. 24) that Samuel was called by the Jews "Rabban," the chief and teacher of the prophets, and there are several reasons why he is put in this foremost place. (1) We never read of a school of the prophets before his time. (2) His mother Hannah is the first person in Holy Writ who speaks of the Messiah (1 Samuel 2:10), "God's anointed." (3) Jewish tradition says that the man of God who came to Eli (1 Samuel 2:27) was Elkanah. The Targum on 1 Samuel 10:12, "But who is their father?" explains fatherby Rabbi, and refers the word to Samuel, so that the question in that verse would imply: "Why do you wonder at Saul among the prophets? Who is it that instructs the prophets? Is it not Samuel? And has not Saul been with him just now and been anointed by him?" All this could be said without the speaker having any knowledge that Saul was to be king. For the use of fatheras = teacheror Rabbicf. Elisha's cry to Elijah (2 Kings 2:12), "My father, my father."

as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days The verbs are aorist. Read, as many as spake they also told of these days. The latter verb is without the preposition προ in the best MSS., and so is not = foretoldbut told. The prophet was one who spoke forGod, gave a message from Him, but was not necessarily a foreteller of the future.