The Jewish crowd was pricked in their hearts and asked what they should do.
When Peter accused them of crucifying their Messiah, the crowd was convicted. They responded with the question, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' showing they felt guilty and sought direction.
Acts 2:37 — This verse directly records the crowd's reaction to Peter's message, showing their conviction and question.
In Acts 2:36-37, after Peter declares that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, the hearers are 'pricked in their heart' and ask, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' This indicates a deep conviction and a desire for response. The Bible shows they recognized their guilt in crucifying Jesus, as Peter directly accused them, 'whom you have crucified'.
Les emphasizes that Peter's message to the Jewish crowd was a direct accusation: they had killed their Messiah. The crowd's reaction was not indifference but deep conviction, leading them to ask what they should do. Les highlights that this was a Jewish-specific message, not addressed to Gentiles, and that their response showed they understood their guilt.
Les Feldick explains that the crowd was convicted of their sin of crucifying the Messiah. They were pricked in their hearts, feeling the weight of their guilt, and urgently sought direction from Peter and the apostles. This question shows they recognized their need for a response to their sin.
Les notes that Peter was preaching to a 'tremendous Jewish crowd' gathered for Pentecost from every nation under heaven. The reaction was collective, as the crowd 'cried out' in response. This was not a small gathering but a large assembly of Jews.
Les contrasts Peter's accusatory message to the Jews with Paul's message of grace. While Peter says 'you killed your Messiah,' Paul says 'He gave Himself for our sins.' This shows the difference in emphasis: Peter's was a message of conviction to Israel, while Paul's was a message of grace to all.
Peter's Accusation vs. Paul's Grace
Les contrasts Peter's accusatory language ('you killed your Messiah') with Paul's message of grace ('He gave Himself for our sins').
Crowd's Conviction and Question
Les describes Peter's message to the Jewish crowd, which accused them of crucifying their Messiah, and their response of asking what they must do.
Inclusive Address to All Israel
Les emphasizes that Peter addressed 'all the house of Israel,' and the crowd's response was to ask 'what shall we do?'
Spirit's Conviction
Les notes that the Spirit was convicting them, and they were 'pricked in their heart' as they heard Peter's accusation.
Why the Resurrection Happens in Order — 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Peter is only addressing the nation of Israel, and he's still on the same ground that he was before the crucifixion, and that was the Abrahamic covenant and the other various Old Testament covenants. So here he is addressing only the nation of Israel, "...ye men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, approved of God, and so forth." Now verse 23, "...
Why Acts 2 Is NOT the Birth of the Church — Explained
And then as you come down to where I said first, verse 36, now Peter says, "...therefore, after all that he had laid out in the previous verses, how that they had crucified their Messiah, that it was prophesied back in the Psalms, that he must suffer, that he must die, but that he be raised from the dead." So this wasn't anything new to Scripture. And then he comes down and he says, "...
Acts 4 Explained: No Other Name — Only Jesus Saves
So what did they do? Verse 3. They laid hands on them, that is on Peter, and I don't know if they're all of them, but anyway, the disciples, and put them in hold until the next day, for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed. And the number of the men was about 5,000. Now we've got a fair number of Jewish believers at this time.
Why the Twelve Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem — Acts 1 & 8
Verse 12 of chapter three, or verse 13, I'm sorry. And he says, He is the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers. Does that include Gentiles? Not a one. Not a one. This is so Jew only that you can't escape it. Whom you delivered up, and you denied him in the presence of Pilate. Verse 15, you killed the prince of life.
Acts 2:36-37: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 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?
This passage directly records the crowd's reaction to Peter's message, showing their conviction and question.
Acts 3:13-15: The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
This shows Peter continuing to accuse the nation of Israel of killing their Messiah, consistent with his message in Acts 2.
The crowd was deeply convicted and pricked in their hearts. They responded by asking Peter and the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' showing they felt guilty and wanted to know how to respond.
Les Feldick indicates that the crowd as a whole was convicted. They are described as 'crying out' in response, showing a collective reaction of guilt and inquiry.
Les explains that Peter directly accused the nation of Israel of killing their Messiah. Since they were on covenant ground, they understood the gravity of the accusation, leading to their heartfelt conviction.
Watch the Teaching: What Shall We Do? Acts 2 & God's Foreknowledge Explained