Peter's message about calling on the Lord was given on covenant and kingdom ground to Israel, while Paul's same phrase applies to the present Age of Grace and the Church.
Les Feldick teaches that Peter, speaking to Israel in Acts, was still under the Old Testament covenants, expecting the tribulation and the Kingdom. After Israel's rejection, Paul was sent to the Gentiles to call out a people for His name — the Church. Thus, the same expression about calling on the Lord belongs to two different programs.
Acts 2:21 — Peter's quotation of Joel showing his use of 'call on the name of the Lord' in Israel's covenant and kingdom context.
Romans 10:13 — Paul's use of the same phrase, showing his application to the present gospel for all who believe.
Both the apostle Peter and the apostle Paul use the phrase 'call on the name of the Lord.' In Acts 2:21, Peter quotes the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' In Romans 10:13, Paul writes: 'For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' The Bible shows that each statement appears in a different setting. Peter spoke at Pentecost to the men of Israel (Acts 2:22) as a continuation of the prophetic promises. Paul wrote to the believers at Rome, explaining righteousness by faith for all who believe, both Jew and Greek (Romans 10:9-13).
Les Feldick emphasizes that Peter was still on covenant ground in Acts 2. Peter rested on the Abrahamic, Davidic, Palestinian, and Mosaic covenants, appealing to the nation of Israel (Clip 1). He did not yet understand the coming Church Age (Clip 3). Peter's call for repentance and baptism was not a new grace gospel but the Old Testament prophetic requirement for the nation, so that God could send Jesus back and establish the Kingdom (Clips 5, 6). Les explains that had Israel accepted, the tribulation would then unroll and Jesus would return. Paul, on the other hand, comes on the scene after Israel's rejection. His message is a departure: God begins calling out a people for His name from the Gentiles — the Church (Clip 4). Therefore, when Paul uses the same expression 'call on the name of the Lord,' he is not placing it on covenant ground but in the new program of grace.
Les teaches that Peter's sermon in Acts rested on the covenant promises made to Israel. Peter quotes Moses and the prophets and appeals to the nation: 'Unto you first, the nation of Israel.' The requirement was that every Jew repent and be baptized that the nation might receive the King and the Kingdom. Les shows that Peter did not have Jesus' foreknowledge, so he did not stop in the middle of the prophecy to announce the intervening Church Age. The Kingdom program was still in view.
When Israel rejected the message and continued to reject the Messiah, the Book of Acts records a departure. Saul is converted, and Peter is sent to the Gentile house of Cornelius. Les explains that God now takes out of the Gentiles a people for His name — the Church. Paul's gospel of grace is not built on covenant ground or the Mosaic system; it proclaims salvation through the crucified and resurrected Christ. Thus, when Paul uses the same phrase about calling on the Lord, he is speaking of individual salvation in the present Age of Grace, not the national restoration of Israel.
Peter's Prophetic Timeframe
Les uses the prophecy in Acts 2 to show that Peter expected the tribulation and the Kingdom to follow Pentecost immediately; he did not insert a parenthetical break for the Church Age.
Covenant Ground
Les emphasizes Peter's message was on covenant ground, especially the Abrahamic, Davidic, Palestinian, and Mosaic covenants, and he addressed the nation of Israel first.
Old Testament Prophets
Les shows Peter continued quoting the Old Testament prophets, including Moses, so his sermon was anchored in the Old Covenant program.
Israel's Rejection and Departure
Les explains Peter did not yet understand the Church Age; Israel's ongoing rejection was leading to a departure, and the text of Acts transitions after Peter's ministry.
Calling Out a People
Les points out that after Israel rejected, God began calling out from the Gentiles a people for His name — the Church — which is a different program from Peter's Kingdom message.
Times of Refreshing
Les shows Peter tied repentance to the 'times of refreshing' and the sending of Jesus Christ, meaning the Kingdom could have been set up had Israel repented.
Repent and Be Baptized
Les shows Peter's command to 'repent and be baptized' applied to every Jew; that was the national requirement for God to return the King and establish the Kingdom.
Revelation Not Yet Given
Les shows God had not yet revealed the grace gospel of salvation through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection; Peter was still on covenant ground with no announcement of a new dispensation.
Joel 2:32: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
The verse Peter quoted at Pentecost; it anchors the call to Israel and points to deliverance in Zion and Jerusalem.
Acts 2:21: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The same promise Peter applied to his audience in Jerusalem.
Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Paul's use of the same phrase for the present gospel to all people.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter's response to the question 'What shall we do?' — the covenant ground command.
Acts 3:19: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Peter's call to Israel to repent for the Kingdom's times of refreshing.
Acts 15:14: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
The transition to the Church — the people for His name.
In Les Feldick's teaching, no. Peter used the phrase while still on covenant ground with Israel, promising the Kingdom if the nation repented. Paul used the same phrase in the present Age of Grace, calling out a people for His name — the Church. The context determines the meaning.
Les explains that Peter was addressing the nation of Israel. The call to repent and be baptized was the Old Testament, covenant-ground requirement for the nation to receive the King and the prophesied Kingdom. The revelation of salvation by grace through Christ's death and resurrection had not yet been given.
Les teaches that the Book of Acts records a transition. After Israel's continued rejection, Saul was converted and the gospel began going out to the Gentiles. Peter's visit to Cornelius and James's comment show God taking out a people for His name. This is the beginning of the Church Age and Paul's distinctive ministry.
Watch the Teaching: What Peter Really Said at Pentecost — Acts 2 Explained