eter refers back to the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. He is demonstrating that what was happening was always in God’s plan, and had indeed been prophesied by Moses. The Jews tended to think that Moses was the be all and end all of their religion. Peter shows that Moses himself knew that he was not, that God had something, indeed someone, much greater than he. This “messiah” would come from “among your own people”, ie He would be born an Israelite. And they were to listen to Jesus. Remember that in Matt 28:19,20 Jesus tells us to make disciples, teaching people to obey all His commands.
3:23
The rejection of Jesus is an extremely serious matter. For anyone who does not listen to Jesus “will be completely cut off from their people”. There are many views on the current place of Israel in God’s plans. The extreme views should be rejected. On the one hand we have those who seem to think Israel can do no wrong, or that they are somehow treated differently than the rest of us (the Gentiles). Such views are deeply unbiblical. On the other hand there is replacement theology that seems to say Israel as a nation no longer has any special place in God’s plans. Such views seem equally unbiblical, requiring one to reinterpret numerous prophecies in the Old Testament, not to mention Rom 9-11. It all seems to run counter to the historical evidence, including current history regarding Israel. Israel will be saved, but it will only be by repenting believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ie she is the same as all other people, each Jew is a sinner who needs to repent and believe in Christ. Yet God has made so many promises to Israel. These will be fulfilled when and only when they repent and believe, recognising who Jesus is. There will be one people, united in Christ (Eph 2:11-22).
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