But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

ACTS 3:18KJV
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Acts 3:18 (KJV)

What does Acts 3:18 mean?

Acts 3:18 says that God had already revealed through all the prophets that the Christ (the Messiah) would have to suffer, and now God has brought those promises to completion. This verse points out that Jesus’ suffering was not a surprise, but part of God’s long-announced plan.

Peter is speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem after healing a man who could not walk. He explains that what happened to Jesus fits exactly with what God said would happen through the prophets. Peter’s point is that the suffering and death of Jesus were not a mistake or a defeat, but the fulfillment of what God had promised long ago.

The Greek behind Acts 3:18

  • προέφησεν (proephēsen, "shewed"): This word means to announce beforehand or to foretell. It highlights that God’s plan was not made up at the last minute, but was declared ahead of time through the prophets.
  • πάσχειν (paschein, "suffer"): This word refers specifically to enduring pain or hardship. The use of this word stresses that the Messiah’s suffering was essential, not just incidental.
  • ἐπλήρωσεν (eplērōsen, "fulfilled"): This word means to bring to completion or to accomplish fully. It shows that God has not just started, but finished what He said He would do regarding the Messiah’s suffering.

Why Acts 3:18 matters

  • Acts 3:18 clears up the misunderstanding that the Messiah’s suffering was unexpected or a sign of failure; instead, it was always part of God’s plan as revealed in the Scriptures.
  • This verse connects the story of Jesus directly to the promises made in the Old Testament, showing continuity between what the prophets said and what happened in Jesus’ life.
  • Acts 3:18 sets the stage for Peter’s call to repentance in the following verses, grounding his message in the authority of God’s fulfilled promises.

Where else these words appear

“shewed” Greek G4293 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
  • Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
  • 2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

“suffer” Greek G3958 · used in 41 verses

  • Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
  • Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
  • Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

“mouth” Greek G4750 · used in 72 verses

  • Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  • Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
  • James 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

“hath” Greek G4137 · used in 90 verses

  • Matthew 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
  • Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
  • Acts 24:27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.