New Testament prophets today

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Jesus himself was the great Prophet, the One the Old Testament saw as the Coming One (Acts 3:22; Matthew 21:11; John 6:14; 7:40; Deuteronomy 18:15).

The Old Testament prophet was a Spirit-filled spokesman for God, a mouth for God, yet one taught by God what to do and say. (Compare Micah 3:8; Amos 3:8; Exodus 7:1; 4:15, 16.)

The New Testament word also means a speaker for God, the proclaimer of revelation directly received from God. With the apostles they revealed truths that were mysteries in Old Testament times but are now revealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 3:5), and thus helped to lay the foundation of the Church (2:20). This implies they were used in bringing truth which was later included in the New Testament.

But, just as in the Old Testament times there were many prophets who challenged the people and led them in worship, but wrote no books, so it was the New Testament church. Many brought illumination and practical application of truths already received. A good example is that of Silas and Judas who brought the decision of the Jerusalem Council to Antioch: “Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers” (Acts 15:32). This fits in very well with the nature of prophecy as we have seen it in 1 Corinthians 14:3.

Some prophets were used also to foretell the future, as was Agabus on two occasions recorded in the Book of Acts (11:28; 21:11). In both of these cases, Agabus left his home in Judea to give the prophecy where it would bring benefit. 
  • In the first case, an offering was taken to help the Jerusalem church during the prophesied famine, which came to pass. 
  • In the second case, the church was prepared to see God’s will in the arrest and imprisonment of the apostle Paul. 
  • In neither case was there new doctrine involved. Nor was there direction given for what the church was to do. This was left to their own response to the Spirit. 
  • Never was there anything akin to fortune-telling in the ministry of these prophets, nor did they ever provide a substitute for a person seeking the will of God for himself.

Those who were used regularly by the Spirit in the exercise of the gift of prophecy in the local congregation are also called prophets (1 Corinthians 14:29, 32, 37). The Bible also warns against false prophets who claim to speak by the Spirit and who must be put to the test (1 John 4:1).


Horton, S. M. (2005). What the Bible Says about the Holy Spirit (pp. 267–268). Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House.

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