Meaning of Prophets in Acts Fifteen Thirty-Two
In Acts 15:32, the term "prophets" (Greek: προφήτης, prophētēs) refers to individuals who served as inspired teachers and speakers of God's message within the early Christian community, rather than exclusively foretellers of future events [7, 8, 11]. This understanding is crucial for interpreting the roles of Judas and Silas, who are described as "being prophets themselves" and who "exhorted the brethren with many words and strengthened them" [7].
The Greek word prophētēs (προφήτης) generally means "one who speaks for another," particularly for God [10]. While it can certainly denote someone who foretells future events, its broader New Testament usage often encompasses the role of a divinely inspired teacher or preacher [8, 9, 11]. For instance, Adam Clarke notes that the term "prophet" in the New Testament is often used simply to signify a teacher in the Church [8, 9]. He points to Genesis 20:7, where Abraham is called a prophet, not primarily as a foreteller, but as one who speaks for God and intercedes [10].
John Gill, in his commentary on Acts 15:32, explains that "prophets" here refers to those "who were able to explain the prophecies of the Old Testament, give the true sense of the Scriptures, and open them to the edification of others" [7]. This aligns with the idea that New Testament prophets were "empowered to speak a message from God," not just to predict the future [11]. The book of Acts itself provides examples of prophets who both taught and foretold, such as Agabus, who was primarily a teacher but also foretold a famine [9].
The role of prophets in the early church was distinct from that of apostles, though both were foundational [11, 12]. Apostles were "sent forth" (ἀπόστολος, apostolos) by Jesus to preach the gospel and organize the church [1, 2]. The book of Acts frequently mentions apostles, such as in Acts 5:12, where signs and wonders were done through their hands [5], or in Acts 15:22, where decisions were made by "the apostles and the elders" [4]. Prophets, while also divinely gifted, focused on speaking God's message, whether through exhortation, teaching, or occasional foresight [7, 11].
The Old Testament background of prophecy also informs this understanding. Prophets were often called "men of God," "messengers of God," or "watchmen of Israel," whose primary function was to deliver God's word to the people [3]. They were not merely predictors but spokespersons for divine truth, as seen in Jeremiah 5:31, where false prophets are condemned for prophesying lies [6]. The Septuagint (LXX) translation of the Old Testament uses prophētēs for the Hebrew navi (נָבִיא), which carries the sense of one who is called to speak for God [6, 10].
In Acts 15:32, Judas and Silas, being prophets, "exhorted the brethren with many words and strengthened them" [7]. This description emphasizes their teaching and encouraging function, which is a core aspect of New Testament prophecy [8]. Their ministry was vital for confirming believers in the truths they had received and fostering peace and unity within the community [8]. This demonstrates that the prophetic gift in the early church was a practical and edifying one, contributing to the spiritual growth and stability of the nascent Christian movement.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Apostle — (one sent forth), in the New Testament originally the official name of those twelve of the disciples whom Jesus chose to send forth first to preach the gospel and to be with him during the course of his ministry on earth. The word also appears to have been used in a non-official sense to designate a much wider circle of Christian messengers and teachers See (2 Corinthians 8:23; Philemon 2:25) It is only of those who were officially designated apostles that we treat in the article. Their names are given in (Matthew 10:2-4) and Christ's charge to them in the r”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Apostle — A person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb. 3:1; John 20:21). It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Matt. 10:1-5; Mark 3:14; 6:7; Luke 6:13; 9:1). We have four lists of the apostles, one by each of the synoptic evangelists (Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14), and one in the Acts (1:13). No two of these lists”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophets — God spoke of old by -- Ho 12:10; Heb 1:1. The messengers of God -- 2Ch 36:15; Isa 44:26. The servants of God -- Jer 35:15. The watchmen of Israel -- Eze 3:17. Were called Men of God. -- 1Sa 9:6. Prophets of God. -- Ezr 5:2. Holy prophets. -- Lu 1:70; Re 18:20; 22:6. Holy men of God. -- 2Pe 1:21. Seers. -- 1Sa 9:9. Were esteemed as holy men -- 2Ki 4:9. Women sometimes endowed as -- Joe 2:28. God communicated to His secret things. -- Am 3:7. At various time and in different ways. -- Heb 1:1. By an audible voice. -- Nu 12:8; 1Sa 3:4-14. By angels. -- Da 8:15-”
- MACULA Greek “Acts 15:22 — Greek linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: Τότε ἔδοξε τοῖς ἀποστόλοις καὶ τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις σὺν ὅλῃ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐκλεξαμένους ἄνδρας ἐξ αὐτῶν πέμψαι εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν σὺν τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ Βαρνάβᾳ Ἰούδαν τὸν καλούμενον Βαρσαββᾶν καὶ Σιλᾶν ἄνδρας ἡγουμένους ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς Word-by-word: Τότε = "Then" [5119] ADV; ἔδοξε = "it seemed good" [1380] V-AAI-3S; τοῖς = "to the" [3588] T-DPM; ἀποστόλοις = "apostles" [652] N-DPM; καὶ = "and" [2532] CONJ; τοῖς = "to the" [3588] T-DPM; πρεσβυτέροις = "elders" [4245] A-DPM-C; σὺν = "with" [4862] PREP; ὅλῃ = "all" [3650] A-DSF; τῇ = "the" [3588] T-DSF; ἐκ”
- MACULA Greek “Acts 5:12 — Greek linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: Διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα πολλὰ ἐν τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἦσαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν πάντες ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶντος Word-by-word: Διὰ = "By" [1223] PREP; δὲ = "now" [1161] CONJ; τῶν = "the" [3588] T-GPF; χειρῶν = "hands" [5495] N-GPF; τῶν = "of the" [3588] T-GPM; ἀποστόλων = "apostles" [652] N-GPM; ἐγίνετο = "were happening" [1096] V-INI-3S; σημεῖα = "signs" [4592] N-NPN; καὶ = "and" [2532] CONJ; τέρατα = "wonders" [5059] N-NPN; πολλὰ = "many" [4183] A-NPN; ἐν = "among" [1722] PREP; τῷ = "the" [3588] T-DSM; λαῷ = "people" [2992] N-DS”
- MACULA Hebrew “Jeremiah 5:31 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: הַ נְּבִיאִ֞ים נִבְּא֣וּ בַ שֶּׁ֗קֶר וְ הַ כֹּהֲנִים֙ יִרְדּ֣וּ עַל יְדֵי הֶ֔ם וְ עַמִּ֖ י אָ֣הֲבוּ כֵ֑ן וּ מַֽה תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ לְ אַחֲרִיתָֽ הּ Word-by-word: הַ (ha) = "the" [1886a] Td; נְּבִיאִ֞ים (nnəḇîʾiym) = "prophets" [5030] Ncmpa; נִבְּא֣וּ (nibbəʾû-) = "prophesy" [5012] VNp3cp; בַ (ḇa) = "about" [0871a] Rd; שֶּׁ֗קֶר (ššeqer) = "lies" [8267] Ncmsa; וְ (wə) = "and" [2050b] C; הַ (ha) = "the" [1886a] Td; כֹּהֲנִים֙ (kōhănîm) = "priests" [3548] Ncmpa; יִרְדּ֣וּ (yirdû) = "rule" [7287] Vqi3mp; עַל (ʿal-) = "by" [5921] R; יְדֵי = "author”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 15:32: And Judas and Silas being also prophets themselves,.... As well as Paul and Barnabas, and others, that were at Antioch; see Act 13:1 and by prophets are meant, not only such who had the gift of foretelling things to come; though such there were, and these might have that gift; but such who were able to explain the prophecies of the Old Testament, give the true sense of the Scriptures, and open them to the edification of others; wherefore having such gifts, they made use of them; Beza's ancient copy adds, "full of the Holy Ghost": and exhorted the brethren with many w”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 15:32: Judas and Silas, being prophets - That is, being teachers in the Church. This signification of the word prophet we have often already seen. See the notes on Act 11:27; Act 13:1. Exhorted the brethren - To abide steadily attached to God, and to each other, in peace, love, and unity. And confirmed them - In the blessed truths they had already received.”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 11:27: Came prophets from Jerusalem - Though the term prophet is used in the New Testament simply to signify a teacher, (see the note on Gen 20:7, where the subject is largely explained), yet here it evidently means also such as are under Divine inspiration, and foretold future events. This was certainly the case with Agabus, Act 11:28, though, perhaps, his ordinary character was that of a teacher or preacher. It seems from various scriptures, Rom 12:4, etc., 1 Corinthians 13:2-14:40, that the prophets of the New Testament were 1. Teachers or preachers in general. 2. Person”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 20:7: He is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee - The word prophet, which we have from the Greek προφητες, and which is compounded of προ, before, and φημι, I speak, means, in its general acceptation, one who speaks of things before they happen, i.e., one who foretells future events. But that this was not the original notion of the word, its use in this place sufficiently proves. Abraham certainly was not a prophet in the present general acceptation of the term, and for the Hebrew נביא nabi, we must seek some other meaning. I have, in a discourse entitled "The Christia”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:20: 2:20 Apostles are missionary evangelists commissioned by God. • Here, the prophets appear to be New Testament prophets, not Old Testament ones (see 3:5; 4:11; see also 1 Cor 12:10, 28-29; 14:1-5, 22-24, 29-32, 39; cp. Acts 13:1; 19:6; 21:9-10). In both the Old Testament and New Testament, prophets are not primarily predictors of the future but are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Cor 12:10). • The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (or on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets)—that is, on their faithful wit”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 85: pleased to attest by such evidence? 4. Those who preside over the government of the Church, according to the institution of Christ, are named by Paul, first, Apostles ; secondly, Prophets ; thirdly, Evangelists ; fourthly, Pastors ; and, lastly, Teachers ( Eph. 4:11 ). Of these, only the two last have an ordinary office in the Church. The Lord raised up the other three at the beginning of his kingdom, and still occasionally raises them up when the necessity of the times requires. The nature of the apostolic function is clear from t”