Peter and the apostles preached to Israel that the Jesus whom they had crucified was raised, exalted, and could still return as their King if the nation repented.
At Pentecost, Peter told the house of Israel, "God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). In Acts 3, he promised that repentance would bring the sending of Jesus Christ for the fulfilling of the covenant promises. Les Feldick stresses that God was still offering Israel the King and kingdom and had not yet turned to the age of grace.
Acts 2:36 — This is Peter's central Pentecost declaration that the crucified Jesus is now Lord and Christ.
Acts 3:19-20 — This is Peter's explicit offer of the King's return on the condition of Israel's national repentance.
In Acts 2:36, Peter declares to all 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." The hearers are pricked in their heart and ask what they should do (Acts 2:37). In Acts 3:19-20, Peter tells them to repent 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." Acts 3:21 adds that heaven must receive Christ "until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
In the early chapters of Acts, Les sees God continuing to deal with Israel rather than immediately turning to the Gentiles. Peter is still pleading with the nation: "The one you killed was the one you should have accepted as your king, but God raised him from the dead, God has called him back to glory, and God is ready to send him back and still be your king, if you'll just believe that that's who He is." Les shows that Peter's message was not yet the grace gospel revealed to Paul; it was a national call for Israel to repent of crucifying their Messiah so the King could come and the Kingdom could be established. The Old Testament writers saw these events as a continuous flow, with Israel then able to evangelize the nations. Because most of Israel rejected this renewed offer, the nation showed it would not have this man to rule over them.
The Bible shows Peter speaking to the house of Israel when he announces that they crucified Jesus (Acts 2:36). Les explains that Peter was dealing with Israel on covenant ground because they, who should have known better, rejected the one God sent to fulfill the Abrahamic and prophetic covenants. At the same time, Psalm 2 shows that the kings of the earth and the people conspired together, so the whole human race shared guilt.
In Acts 3:19-20, Peter says that if Israel repents, God will send Jesus Christ. Les teaches that this was a literal offer of the King and kingdom: the resurrected Christ could still return and fulfill the covenant promises made through the prophets. It was not an afterthought, but part of the prophetic order.
Les says Paul later reveals that the grace-age truths had been kept secret in the mind of God. The Old Testament writers did not see the church age, so Peter's message in Acts was not the mystery gospel of grace. Peter was still holding out the Kingdom to Israel, not yet proclaiming the age of grace that would come through Paul.
The Old Testament Prophetic Expectation
Les explains that the Old Testament writers saw a continuous flow of events leading to the King and Kingdom, and they did not see the church age; Israel could have been the vehicle to evangelize the nations.
God Has Not Given Up on Israel
Les emphasizes that after the crucifixion, God continued to deal with Israel, and Peter pleaded with the nation to accept the One they killed as their living King.
The Acts 3 Kingdom Offer
Les points to Peter's announcement that if Israel repented, God would send Jesus Christ back to set up His kingdom.
Repentance and the Second Coming
Les connects Peter's call to repentance in Acts 3 with the promise that God would send the Messiah to fulfill the covenant promises at the Second Coming.
Peter's Pentecost Accusation
Les highlights Peter's bold words at Pentecost: the house of Israel killed their Messiah, and their response showed they were pricked in their hearts.
Covenant Ground and Psalm 2
Les explains that Peter dealt with Israel on covenant ground, while Psalm 2 shows the whole human race was guilty of crucifying the Messiah.
God Raised the Crucified King
Les shows that Peter's message included the truth that even though Israel killed their King, God raised Him and called Him back to heaven, still ready to give them the Kingdom.
Israel's Renewed Opportunity
Les teaches that God graciously used Peter and the eleven to give Israel another opportunity to repent of crucifying their King and still receive the King and the Kingdom.
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 verse captures Peter's core message on Pentecost: the crucified Jesus is now Lord and Christ.
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 response shows that Israel was convicted by Peter's direct accusation.
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 ties Israel's national repentance to the sending of Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:21: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Christ remains in heaven until the prophetic kingdom promises are fulfilled.
Psalm 110:1: The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Les says Israel knew from this verse that the exalted Christ could return as King.
No. Les Feldick says Peter was still pleading with Israel on covenant ground, telling them the Jesus they killed was raised and could still be their King if they believed. The grace-age truths that Paul later revealed had been kept secret.
Peter laid the blame on the Jewish nation because they should have known better and rejected the one God sent to fulfill the covenants. At the same time, Psalm 2 shows the kings of the earth and the people joined together, so all humanity shares guilt.
According to Acts 3:19-20 and Les's teaching, yes. The kingdom could have come in the order foretold by the prophets, with Israel then evangelizing the nations.
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