Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 3:24

"Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days." — Acts 3:24 (ASV)

All the prophets. This means the prophets in general. It may be said of the prophets generally, or of all of them, that they have foretold these things. This expression should not be pressed as if we were to look for distinct predictions of the Messiah in each one of the prophets. The use of language does not require such a strict interpretation.

From Samuel. In the previous verse (Acts 3:22), Moses was mentioned as the first in order. The next in order was Samuel. The same mention of Moses and Samuel occurs in Psalm 99:6. The reason Samuel is mentioned here is probably that he was the first prophet after Moses who recorded a prediction concerning the times of the Messiah.

The Jews, in their divisions of the books of the Old Testament, reckoned the book of Joshua as the first of the prophets. However, in Joshua and Judges, no distinct prediction of the Messiah occurs. The prophecy in Samuel, to which Peter probably referred, is in 2 Samuel 7:16.

Also, from the time of Moses to Samuel, it is probable that no prophet arose. God was consulted by Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:21); consequently, no extraordinary messenger was sent to instruct the nation.

As many as have spoken. This means whoever has declared the will of God. This should be taken in a general sense.

The meaning is that the prophets had concurred in foretelling these days. They not only concurred in foretelling a happy future period, but they also foretold distinctly the very things that had actually occurred concerning Jesus of Nazareth; and the Jews, therefore, should listen to the voice of their own prophets.