Yes—according to Les Feldick, Peter's resurrection message meant that Israel's rejection did not thwart God and that the crucified Jesus was still alive to fulfill all the promises to Israel.
Peter told the house of Israel that God had raised the Jesus they had crucified and made Him both Lord and Christ. He still could be their King and return to fulfill the Kingdom promises. Peter did not present the resurrection as the basis of salvation for all mankind.
Acts 2:24 — Peter states plainly that God raised Jesus from the dead, showing that death could not hold Him.
Acts 2:36 — Peter concludes that God made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ.
Acts 3:19-20 — Peter ties repentance to the times of refreshing and to God sending Jesus Christ back to fulfill the promises.
Acts 3:15 — Peter tells Israel they killed the Prince of Life, but God raised Him from the dead.
In Acts 2, Peter addresses the men of Israel and tells them that Jesus of Nazareth was “a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs.” He then says, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Peter’s conclusion is direct: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Les Feldick emphasizes that Peter’s message was directed exclusively to the nation of Israel. Peter says, “ye men of Israel,” and never includes a Gentile. He is still standing on the ground of the Abrahamic covenant and the Old Testament covenants. Peter accuses Israel of killing their Messiah even though they did not do it with their own hands—they demanded it and caused Rome to carry it out.
Les points out that if Peter were on church ground, he would have said that Jesus died for their sins. Instead, Peter says, “whom you crucified.” The emphasis is on Israel’s rejection and guilt, not on the atoning death. In the early chapters of Acts, Peter mentions the name of Jesus Christ and tells Israel to put their faith in who He was—the Christ, the Messiah of Israel. He does not mention death, burial, and resurrection as a means of salvation.
For Peter, the resurrection proved that Israel’s rejection of Jesus did not thwart God’s plan. Death could not hold Him because He was God. Jesus was still alive and waiting in glory to return and fulfill what He had begun. In Acts 3, Peter connects repentance to the times of refreshing and to God sending “Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.” The risen Messiah can still return to give the Kingdom.
No. According to Les, Peter’s message in Acts does not say one word about Christ dying for them, shedding His blood for them, or rising from the dead as a means of salvation. Peter knew only that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel, the Son of God, and the One who would be the Redeemer and King in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. The whole house of Israel was told that God made the Jesus they had crucified both Lord and Christ.
Addressing Only Israel
Les shows that Peter is speaking solely to the nation of Israel and accuses them of crucifying their Messiah, not including a single Gentile.
Whom You Crucified
Les explains Peter intentionally says 'whom you crucified' rather than 'who died for you,' because Peter is not yet on church ground—he's proving Israel killed its Messiah and God raised Him.
Resurrection Means Christ Can Still Return
Les connects Peter's call to repent to the times of refreshing and to God sending Jesus Christ back to fulfill the covenant promises.
God's Purpose Was Not Thwarted
Les emphasizes even though Israel killed its King, God raised Him from the dead and He is still able to give the Kingdom.
Jesus Made Lord and Christ
Les points out Peter only tells the house of Israel that God made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ—with no word to the Gentiles.
No Saving Purpose Mentioned
Les notes that Peter's message in Acts has no mention of Christ dying for them or rising as a means of salvation—only that Jesus is Messiah and Son of God.
Faith in Who Jesus Was
Les explains Peter never mentions death, burial, and resurrection as the object of faith; he tells Israel to believe in who Jesus was—the Christ.
Accusing Israel, Witnessing the Resurrection
Les shows Peter telling Israel they denied the Holy One, killed the Prince of Life, but God raised Him from the dead—and the apostles were witnesses.
Acts 2:23: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Peter charges Israel with crucifying Jesus even though it was according to God's foreknowledge.
Acts 2:24: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Peter declares that God raised Jesus because death could not hold Him.
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 directly applies the resurrection to Jesus' Lordship and Messiahship before Israel.
Acts 3:15: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Peter accuses Israel of killing the Prince of Life but testifies that God raised Him.
Acts 3:19-20: 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; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Peter links repentance to the future sending of the risen Jesus to fulfill the promised blessings.
No. According to Les Feldick, Peter never says Christ died for them or that the resurrection was a means of salvation. He simply tells Israel that they killed their Messiah and that God raised Him from the dead to prove who He was.
Peter is addressing only the nation of Israel. He says 'ye men of Israel' and 'all the house of Israel.' He does not include a single Gentile.
Because Israel's rejection did not thwart God's plan. The resurrection proved that Jesus is alive and still able to return and fulfill the promises made to Israel.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Resurrection Happens in Order — 1 Corinthians 15:20-23