Who is guilty of crucifying the Messiah according to Acts 2 and Psalm 2:1?
Acts 2 records Peter charging the house of Israel with crucifying Jesus, the Messiah, saying God made Him Lord and Christ. Yet Psalm 2:1 shows the kings of the earth and people consorting together, so the whole human race shares guilt. Israel precipitated it, but Scripture indicts all humanity.
Les explains that in Acts 2 Peter puts the blame upon the nation of Israel, saying, “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, Lord and Christ.” Peter does not include Gentiles here, but Les stresses he is not anti-Semitic, noting that Peter will over and over lay the blame for the crucifixion on the Jewish nation. They precipitated it. However, Les says never lose sight of Psalm 2:1, where the kings of the earth and the people consort together, so the whole human race is guilty of having crucified the Messiah. Peter is dealing with Israel on covenant ground, pointing out that they, who should have known better, rejected the one God sent to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. When they heard this, the Spirit convicted them, and they were pricked in their heart.
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
More Questions
Who do 'the heathen' and 'the people' refer to in Psalm 2?
In Psalm 2, 'the heathen' are the Gentiles or non-Jews, while 'the people' are the Jews, so the psalm involves the whole human race.