What Is the Difference Between Peter's and Paul's Messages?

Direct Answer

Yes — Peter told Israel, 'You killed Him,' while Paul proclaimed, 'He died for you.'

In Acts, Peter repeatedly charges the house of Israel with crucifying their Messiah. Les Feldick contrasts this with Paul's message, which is that Christ loved people and died for their sins. These are two different concepts and are not to be mixed.

Key Scriptures

Acts 2:36 — Peter's Pentecost message directly charges the house of Israel with crucifying Jesus, showing the contrast with Paul's message.

Acts 3:15 — Peter continues the same accusation, telling Israel, 'you killed the Prince of life.'

Acts 4:10 — Peter again uses the accusing language, 'whom ye crucified,' to the people of Israel.

What Does the Bible Say?

In Acts 2:36, Peter tells the house of Israel: '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 3:15 he says: 'And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.' In Acts 4:10 Peter again says to the people of Israel: '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.' These verses record Peter's message as a direct accusation against the nation of Israel for crucifying Jesus.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Difference Between Peter's and Paul's Messages?

Les teaches that the recorded messages of Peter and Paul are sharply different. Peter, he says, repeatedly tells Israel, 'you killed Him' or 'you crucified Him.' Paul, by contrast, never says 'you killed the Christ'; his message is 'He loved you, and he died for your sins.' Les calls this 'a whole different concept.' Les also explains that Peter spoke on covenant ground, addressing the house of Israel only, with no Gentile included. Peter could not yet preach Paul's message because, as Les says, 'these things were still hid in the mind of Peter.'

What Did Peter Say About Jesus' Death in Acts?

Les Feldick points to the language of Acts to show Peter's message. Peter says to the house of Israel, 'you crucified Him' and 'you killed the Prince of life.' Les emphasizes that Peter's words are directed at the nation of Israel for crucifying their Messiah.

How Is Paul's Message Different?

Les contrasts Paul with Peter: 'Paul never points the finger at Jew or Gentile and says, you killed the Christ. But Paul says what? He loved you, and he died for your sins.' Les summarizes the difference as 'Peter says, you killed Him. Paul says, He died for you.'

Why Didn't Peter Preach Paul's Message?

Les says Peter could not go any further than what God had revealed. The truths of the cross as Paul preached them 'were still hid in the mind of Peter.' In other words, Peter's message was limited to the revelation he had at that time.

Was Peter's Message Only for the Jews?

Les repeatedly stresses that Peter addresses 'all the house of Israel' and that no Gentiles are included in Peter's language. He calls Peter's message 'so Jew only that you can't escape it.' The audience at Pentecost was Jewish, even though it included Jews from every nation under heaven.

From the Teaching

Peter on Covenant Ground with Israel

Les explains that in Acts 2 Peter is still speaking to Israel on covenant ground, telling the house of Israel alone that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ; no Gentile is included.

Opposite Language: Peter vs. Paul

Les shows that Peter's language is totally opposite to Paul's: Paul never points the finger and says 'you killed the Christ,' but rather says He died for your sins. Peter couldn't go further than what God had revealed because these things were still hidden in his mind.

'You Killed Him' vs. 'He Died for You'

Les contrasts Peter's repeated 'you crucified Him' with Paul's 'He died for you' and calls it a whole different concept.

Peter Accuses Israel of Killing the Prince of Life

Les reads Peter's words — 'you denied Him,' 'you killed the prince of life' — and says Peter doesn't sound like Paul, because Peter is addressing the Jews only.

Preaching Christ vs. Christ Crucified

Les points out that even Philip's message in Samaria was 'Christ,' not the full Pauline emphasis on 'Christ crucified,' illustrating that the early Jewish message is not to be confused with Paul's.

Pentecost Crowd Charged with Crucifying Their Messiah

Les explains that Peter told the Jewish crowd at Pentecost, 'whom you crucified,' and that this message 'shook them up' enough to ask, 'What must we do?'

Peter Blames Israel, Yet Humanity Is Also Guilty

Les notes that Peter lays the blame for the crucifixion on the Jewish nation, though the whole human race is guilty; Peter's focus is on Israel's covenant responsibility.

The House of Israel Is Peter's Audience

Les observes that Peter says 'let all the house of Israel' and leaves it there — no mention of Gentiles — and then tells Israel, 'whom you have crucified, Lord and Christ.'

Bible Verses

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 Pentecost sermon explicitly accuses Israel of crucifying Jesus.

Acts 3:15: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Peter continues the accusation that Israel killed their Messiah.

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 uses the same accusing language, 'whom ye crucified,' before the people of Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Peter preach that Christ died for sins?

In the Acts passages Les cites, Peter does not tell his hearers 'He died for your sins.' Instead he charges Israel, 'you killed the Prince of life.' Les says this language is totally opposite to Paul's message. Peter simply did not say what Paul later said.

Why didn't Peter preach the same message Paul preached?

Les explains that Peter could not go beyond what God had revealed. The truths of Paul's message were still hidden in Peter's mind at that time. So Peter's message was limited to what had been revealed up to that point.

Was Peter's message only for Jews?

Les shows that Peter addresses 'all the house of Israel' and includes no Gentiles. He calls Peter's message 'so Jew only that you can't escape it.' The audience at Pentecost included Jews from every nation, but the message was to Israel.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: What Shall We Do? Acts 2 & God's Foreknowledge Explained