Did Peter, Martha, and the Ethiopian eunuch's confessions mention Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection?
Peter's confession at Matthew 16, Martha's at Lazarus' death, and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Scripture records these confessions focused on His messiahship and sonship, with no mention of death, burial, and resurrection.
Les explains a contrast between the earlier message and Paul's later preaching. Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ, not Christ crucified. From Pentecost onward, the message was that Jesus was the Christ. Peter confessed, "thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Martha said, "I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 likewise said, "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." Les notes that there is never any mention of death, burial and resurrection in these confessions. By contrast, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1 that he preached Christ crucified, and after Saul's conversion in Damascus he preached that Jesus is the Son of God. Back in Acts 8, Philip preached Christ unto Samaria, meaning He is, was, and always will be their Messiah, with the same miracles continuing and the Jewish requirement of a sign in view.