Peter accuses the nation of Israel of rejecting and killing its Messiah—Jesus of Nazareth—by delivering Him up, denying Him before Pilate, and demanding His crucifixion.
Les Feldick shows that Peter repeatedly points the finger at Israel on covenant ground, telling the nation, 'whom you have crucified' and 'you killed the Prince of Life.' Israel did not physically carry out the execution, but it demanded Jesus' death and caused Him to be delivered up to Rome. Peter's accusation was intended to convict the whole house of Israel, and their response was to ask what they must do.
Acts 2:36 — Peter's summary statement to the whole house of Israel directly names them as those who crucified Jesus.
Acts 3:13-15 — Peter explicitly charges Israel with delivering up, denying, and killing Jesus, then notes that God raised Him from the dead.
Peter's accusation is recorded in Acts 2 and Acts 3. On the day of Pentecost, Peter addresses 'men of Israel' and concludes: '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, he repeats the charge, saying to Israel: 'But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.' He also tells them that they delivered up Jesus and denied Him in the presence of Pilate when Pilate was determined to let Him go. The Scripture therefore records that Israel rejected their Messiah, denied Him before Pilate, chose Barabbas instead, and killed the Prince of Life—even though God raised Him from the dead.
Les Feldick repeatedly points out that Peter 'puts the blame upon the nation of Israel' for the crucifixion. He emphasizes that Israel, not Rome, demanded Jesus' death, and that Peter's language—'you crucified,' 'you killed the Prince of Life'—is deliberate. At the same time, Les is careful to add that Israel only precipitated the crucifixion; Rome actually carried it out, and the whole human race is guilty, as Psalm 2 foretold. Les's point is that Peter is dealing with Israel on covenant ground, holding the nation responsible for rejecting the One God had sent to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. He also reminds his readers that this accusation is not a license for anti-Semitism; Peter was addressing the covenant nation directly, and his words convicted the crowd, who then asked what they must do.
Les explains that Israel precipitated the death of Jesus and demanded it, but Rome carried out the execution. Even though Pilate washed his hands, he remained responsible, and Israel did not let go of the guilt. Peter's accusation is therefore not that Israel physically nailed Jesus to the cross, but that the nation caused Him to be crucified and called for a murderer—Barabbas—in His place.
Les says Peter repeatedly lays the blame on the Jewish nation, but he cautions against concluding that only the Jews killed Jesus. He notes that Jesus Himself said He would be beaten and scourged by the Gentiles, and Psalm 2 foretold that the kings of the earth and the people would reject Him together. So while Peter is pointing the finger at Israel on covenant ground, the Gentile nations are not excused—the whole human race is guilty.
When Peter told the house of Israel that they had crucified their Messiah, they were pricked in their heart. According to the Scripture, they cried out, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Les highlights this as the convicting result of Peter's accusation.
Israel's Rejection Culminated in the Cry to Crucify Him
Les grounds Peter's later accusation in the nation's history: Israel rejected Jesus as King and finally demanded, 'Crucify Him! Get Him out of here!'
Peter Blames Israel While Acknowledging All Mankind's Guilt
Les explains that Peter repeatedly lays the crucifixion on the Jewish nation, yet he also reminds that Psalm 2 makes the whole human race guilty.
Whom You Crucified
Peter, not addressing Gentiles, tells the whole house of Israel that God made the same Jesus they had crucified both Lord and Christ.
You Denied the Holy One and Killed the Prince of Life
Les reads Peter's charges directly: Israel delivered up Jesus, denied Him at Pilate's judgment, chose a murderer, and killed the Prince of Life.
Israel Demanded It, Rome Carried It Out
Les cautions that Peter's blame of Israel does not remove the Gentiles' part; Psalm 2 shows Jew and Gentile together rejected and put Messiah to death.
You Killed Your Messiah—Plain English
Speaking to the Pentecost crowd, Peter says plainly, 'You killed your Messiah.' Les shows that the accusation 'whom you crucified' shook the Jewish crowd.
Israel Demanded Crucifixion, but God Raised Jesus
Les explains that Israel's demand led to Jesus' crucifixion, yet the death did not stop God; Peter's accusation is followed by the fact that God raised Him from the dead.
All the House of Israel Convicted
Peter's address includes all Israel, not just one tribe, and after accusing them of killing their Messiah, the people respond convicted, asking what they must do.
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.
This is Peter's direct accusation to the whole house of Israel that they crucified Jesus.
Acts 2:37: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
The crowd's immediate response shows the convicting force of Peter's accusation.
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 Jesus up 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 contrasts Israel's rejection of Jesus with their request for Barabbas.
Acts 3:15: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Peter plainly states that Israel killed the Prince of Life and that God raised Him from the dead.
Because Israel rejected Jesus as Messiah and demanded that He be crucified. As Les points out, Peter's language—'whom you crucified'—holds the nation responsible for handing Him over, even though Romans physically carried out the execution.
Peter addresses 'all the house of Israel,' and Les explains that the address is inclusive of all Israel, not just one tribe or only the crowd present. The accusation against the nation is corporate.
No. Peter reminds the nation that God raised Jesus from the dead and made Him Lord and Christ. The evidence shows God's purposes did not stop with Israel's rejection.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Resurrection Happens in Order — 1 Corinthians 15:20-23