Peter charges Israel with killing Jesus, while Paul presents Jesus' death as Christ dying for our sins.
In Acts, Peter repeatedly tells the nation of Israel, 'whom ye have crucified' and 'you killed the Prince of life.' Paul, on the other hand, teaches that 'Christ died for us' while we were yet sinners. Les Feldick says the two are 'as different as daylight and dark' because Peter was addressing Israel's rejection of their Messiah while Paul's message was still a secret God had not revealed.
Acts 2:36 — Peter's climactic charge to Israel: the Jesus they crucified is both Lord and Christ.
Acts 3:15 — Peter's blunt accusation: Israel killed the Prince of Life.
Romans 5:8 — Paul's contrasting presentation: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
The Scripture record shows Peter speaking to the nation of Israel. In Acts 2:36 he declares, 'Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.' In Acts 3:13-15 he reminds them that they delivered up Jesus and denied Him before Pilate, desired a murderer, and killed the Prince of Life. Acts 4:10 repeats the charge: 'whom ye crucified.' Paul, however, writes in Romans 5:8, 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' These are two distinct presentations of the same event. Peter points the finger at his audience; Paul holds out a personal sacrifice.
Les Feldick points out that Peter's sermon is directed solely to the nation of Israel and that Peter repeatedly says, 'You killed Him' — Acts 2:36 and Acts 3:15. Les contrasts this with Paul's theme: God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Paul's message is not 'you killed Christ' but 'He died for you.' Les says this difference is 'as different as daylight and dark' and explains that Peter's sermon was not supposed to fit Paul's doctrine, because God had not yet revealed Paul's message; it was still a secret kept in the mind of God. Les is also careful to point out that he is not blaming only the Jewish nation for the crucifixion. The nation of Israel precipitated and demanded it, but Rome carried it out, and Psalm 2 shows the nations of the earth conspiring together against the Lord and His Anointed. Peter addresses Israel on covenant ground, on the basis of the Abrahamic and Old Testament covenants. He is speaking to the nation that should have known better and that openly rejected the Messiah God had sent.
In Acts 2:36 Peter tells the house of Israel, 'whom ye have crucified'; in Acts 3:15 he says, 'And killed the Prince of life.' Les describes this as Peter's repeated charge against the nation of Israel. He clarifies that the Jewish nation precipitated and demanded the crucifixion, while Rome carried it out, and that Psalm 2 shows Jew and Gentile together rejected and killed the Messiah.
Paul's message is personal and gracious. Les says Paul's theme is Romans 5:8 — while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Paul does not accuse his listeners with 'you crucified Him'; instead he says 'He died for you.' Les calls this 'a whole different concept' from Peter's message.
Les explains that they were not supposed to match yet. God had not revealed Paul's message when Peter preached in Acts 2–4; it was still a secret kept in the mind of God. Peter preached on the basis of what God had revealed up to that point, which centered on Israel's covenants and their rejection of their Messiah.
Jews and Gentiles in the Crucifixion
Les explains that Peter's charges against Israel do not excuse Gentile involvement — the Jews demanded it, Rome carried it out, and Psalm 2 says the nations conspired.
Paul's Theme vs. Peter's Accusation
Les shows the direct contrast: Paul says 'Christ died for us,' while Peter tells Israel 'You killed Him,' and he notes Paul's message was still unrevealed.
Acts 3: A Jew-Only Message
Les highlights that Peter's words in Acts 3 — 'you delivered up,' 'you denied Him,' 'you killed the Prince of life' — are directed only to Israel, not to Gentiles.
Acts 2:36 Addressed to Israel
Les stresses that Peter's conclusion in Acts 2:36 is aimed at 'all the house of Israel,' not at Gentiles, as Peter charges them with crucifying their Messiah.
'You Crucified Him' vs. 'He Died for You'
Les distills the whole difference into two phrases: Peter says 'you crucified Him'; Paul says 'He died for you.'
Covenant Ground and National Blame
Les says Peter repeatedly lays the blame on the Jewish nation because he is dealing with Israel on covenant ground, but the whole human race is guilty per Psalm 2.
Peter's Accusation in Acts 2
Les reads Acts 2:23 as Peter plainly telling Israel they took Jesus and by wicked hands crucified and slain Him, even though Rome actually executed Him.
Israel Demanded the Crucifixion
Les notes Peter's repeated charge that Israel denied the Holy One, asked for a murderer, and killed the Prince of Life, but God raised Him from the dead.
Acts 2:36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Peter's public conclusion that Israel crucified the very Jesus God made Lord and Christ.
Acts 3:13: The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Peter charges Israel with delivering up Jesus and denying Him before Pilate.
Acts 3:14: But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Peter reminds Israel that they rejected the Holy One and chose a murderer instead.
Acts 3:15: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Peter's direct statement that Israel killed the Prince of Life, though God raised Him.
Acts 4:10: Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Peter again tells Israel, in public testimony, that they crucified Jesus of Nazareth.
Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Paul frames Jesus' death as God's love shown to sinners, not as an accusation against a specific audience.
No. Les is emphatic that he is not anti-Semitic. He says the nation of Israel precipitated the crucifixion and demanded it, but Rome carried it out, and Psalm 2 shows Jew and Gentile together rejected and put the Messiah to death. Peter addresses Israel because he speaks to them on covenant ground and they should have known better.
No, not in the evidence Les presents. Paul's message is that Christ died for us while we were sinners, and Les says Paul presents the death of Christ as a loving sacrifice rather than an accusation: 'He died for you.'
Les does not say Peter was wrong. He says Peter's sermon was not supposed to fit Paul's doctrine, because God had not revealed Paul's message yet. It was still a secret kept in the mind of God at the time Peter preached in Acts.
Peter repeatedly says 'all the house of Israel' and addresses the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Les says Peter is dealing with the nation of Israel on covenant ground — the Abrahamic and Old Testament covenants — not with Gentiles.
Watch the Teaching: What Peter Really Preached in Acts 3 — Israel's Call to Repent