Peter continued Jesus' program to the nation of Israel, calling them to repent and recognize the crucified Jesus as their resurrected King.
Les Feldick teaches that Peter and the eleven did not begin a new message after the crucifixion. Instead, Peter extended the same appeal Jesus had made to Israel, telling them that the One they crucified was the promised Messiah and their King. He directed his speeches exclusively to the house of Israel, pleading with them to repent so God could send Jesus back to fulfill the kingdom promises.
Acts 2:36 — This is Peter's core post-crucifixion statement to Israel, declaring that the crucified Jesus has been made both Lord and Christ.
Acts 3:19-20 — Peter ties Israel's repentance to the future sending of Jesus Christ, showing his continued offer of the kingdom to the nation.
In the book of Acts, Peter's post-crucifixion preaching is directed to the nation of Israel. In Acts 2:36 he tells 'all the house of Israel' that God hath made 'that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.' He does not address the Gentiles; the message goes to Israel specifically. Peter's appeal continues in Acts 3:19-20, where he calls the nation to '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.' The promise of Jesus' return is conditioned upon Israel's repentance. These verses show that Peter's role was not to start a new work among the Gentiles but to press the claims of the risen Messiah upon the very nation that had rejected and crucified Him.
Les Feldick teaches that after the crucifixion and resurrection, Peter simply took up the same program Jesus had been presenting to Israel. Peter and the eleven preached only to the nation of Israel, reminding them that they had crucified their promised Messiah and that God had raised Him from the dead. Peter was 'hoping against hope' that Israel would wake up and realize that the One they killed was their King, and that God was ready to send Him back if they would only believe. Les stresses that Peter's appeals were strictly Jewish. Peter would not have addressed Gentiles as brethren at this point, because Israel had to believe first. The whole purpose was to prepare Israel to be the kingdom of priests that would one day lead Gentiles to a knowledge of their God. However, Les notes the tragic 'big but' that Israel rejected the message in unbelief, and God turned to the Gentiles with the age of grace. God had not given up on Israel in the early chapters of Acts. Les repeatedly shows that Peter kept pleading with Israel on covenant ground, telling them that the one they killed was the one they should have accepted as King, but God raised him and called him back to glory, ready to send him again.
Les Feldick explains that Jesus came only to the nation of Israel because 'it had to go to the Jew first.' Peter continued that same approach after the resurrection, saying 'let all the house of Israel know assuredly...' and leaving out any mention of Gentiles. Les says Peter would not have called Gentiles 'brethren' at this point — they had no idea they were to have anything to do with Gentiles.
The Bible records Peter telling 'all the house of Israel' that they had crucified Jesus and that God made that same Jesus both Lord and Christ. Les points out that Peter repeatedly lays the blame for the crucifixion on the Jewish nation, although he clarifies that the whole human race is guilty according to Psalm 2:1. Peter was dealing with Israel on covenant ground because they should have known better.
Les says Peter was pleading with Israel 'hoping against hope' that they would realize the One they killed was their King. Because God had raised Jesus from the dead, God was ready to send Him back as their King if they repented. In Acts 3:19-20, Peter connects repentance to 'times of refreshing' and the sending of Jesus Christ — the fulfillment of the covenant and kingdom promises.
Israel's Calling as a Kingdom of Priests
Les shows that Israel was being prepared under the law to become a kingdom of priests who would bring the Gentiles to a knowledge of God — the larger purpose behind Peter's Acts ministry.
Peter's Preaching to Israel in Acts
Les summarizes Peter and the eleven preaching to the nation of Israel that the One they crucified was their King, and that He was alive and could still return as King; Israel rejected it, so God turned to the Gentiles.
No Gentile Audience Yet
Les emphasizes that Jesus came only to Israel and Peter's message still hoped Israel would recognize the crucified One as the Promised Messiah; Peter would not yet address Gentiles as brethren.
Peter's Pentecost Charge to Israel
Les shows Peter's Acts 2 charge is to 'all the house of Israel' only, declaring they had crucified their Messiah and that God made that same Jesus both Lord and Christ.
God Had Not Given Up on Israel
Les stresses that God had not given up on Israel after the crucifixion; Peter pleaded with them that God was ready to send Jesus back as their King if they believed.
Continuing the Kingdom Priests Purpose
Les frames Peter's Pentecost sermon within Israel's calling to be a kingdom of priests, continuing Old Testament promises and covenants after the resurrection.
Laying Blame on Covenant Ground
Les explains that Peter repeatedly blames Israel for the crucifixion, but this is on covenant ground; Psalm 2 shows that the whole human race is also guilty.
Repentance Leading to Christ's Return
Les ties Peter's call to repentance in Acts 3 to the promise of Christ's second coming as the fulfillment of covenant and kingdom promises.
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 post-crucifixion declaration to the nation of Israel about who Jesus is.
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 calls Israel to repentance with a promise of refreshing from God.
Acts 3:20: And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
The promised sending of Jesus Christ is tied directly to Israel's repentance.
Psalm 2:1: Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Les references this to show that the whole human race, not just Israel, was involved in crucifying the Messiah.
Exodus 19:6: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
This is the background of Israel's calling to be a kingdom of priests, which Les says underlies Peter's Acts ministry.
No, according to Les Feldick, Peter and the eleven preached only to the nation of Israel at this time. Les says Peter would not have addressed Gentiles as brethren — Israel had to believe first, and the Gentile inclusion was not yet revealed.
Peter told the nation of Israel to repent and be converted so that their sins would be blotted out and the times of refreshing would come, leading to God sending Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-20). Les says Peter was still pleading with Israel to recognize the One they killed as their King.
Les explains that Israel rejected the message in unbelief, and God then turned to the Gentiles with the age of grace. But in the early chapters of Acts, God was still offering the kingdom to Israel before that turning.
Watch the Teaching: Why Every Jew Was Meant to Be a Priest — Exodus 19