What does it mean in this teaching that Peter is on covenant ground?
Peter is on covenant ground means he is still operating on the basis of God's covenant with Abraham and the nation of Israel. That covenant promised Israel would receive the Redeemer, Messiah, King, and Kingdom, and that through Israel God would gather the Gentiles.
Les explains that Peter is still on covenant ground because he is preaching to a Jewish crowd as the children of the prophets and of the covenant God made with the fathers. In Acts 3:24-25, Peter says all the prophets from Samuel onward foretold these days—the crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and coming of the Holy Spirit. All prophecy was directed to the nation of Israel, since Israel is at the core of these prophetic events, even the Book of Revelation, which is primarily directed to Israel and called the time of Jacob's trouble, though the whole world comes along with it. Peter remains on the same basis as everything since Abraham: Israel was to receive the Redeemer, Messiah, King, and Kingdom, and through Israel God would gather the Gentiles. This does not mean God had cast off the Gentiles.
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
More Questions
What covenant made with the fathers is Peter referring to in Acts 3:25?
The covenant God made with the fathers that Peter refers to is the promise spoken to Abraham, "in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."
In Acts 3:25, who is Peter addressing and why does he call them children of the prophets and of the covenant?
In verse 25, Peter is addressing Jews, telling them they are children of the prophets and of the covenant God made with the fathers, the covenant spoken to Abraham.
Who was Peter addressing in Acts 3:25 when he spoke of the children of the prophets and the covenant?
Peter's words in Acts 3:25 were directed to a Jewish audience, telling them they are children of the prophets and share in the covenant God made with Abraham.