Peter addressed the rulers of the people and the elders of Israel—the Jewish leadership—along with the people of Israel who had gathered around the healed man.
Acts 4:8 names the rulers and elders of Israel as his immediate audience, while Acts 3:12 records his address to the people as "Ye men of Israel." Les Feldick emphasizes that no Gentiles are in view; the entire scene is Jewish, from the healing miracle to the questioning by the high priest's kindred.
Acts 4:8 — Explicitly names Peter's audience as the rulers of the people and elders of Israel.
Acts 3:12 — Records Peter's opening address to the people at the miracle scene as "Ye men of Israel."
The biblical record identifies Peter's audience in two ways. When Peter first responded to the amazement over the healing of the lame man, Acts 3:12 says he "answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel." The next day, after the rulers, elders, scribes, and high priestly family had gathered, Acts 4:8 says Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, addressed them as "Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel." The text describes those gathered as the Jewish leadership, including Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and "as many as were of the kindred of the high priest" (Acts 4:5-6). At no point in this immediate context does the Scripture place Gentiles among those Peter addresses.
Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that Peter's address was to Jews only. He points out that Peter did not say "all you Gentiles"—the text says "Ye men of Israel" (Acts 3:12). He observes that every person in the temple leadership was Jewish, and that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was meaningful to Israel but meant nothing to the pagan world. Les also notes that Peter never had a ministry among Gentiles and that God had not yet given Israel instructions to go to the Gentiles; He was still dealing with His covenant people. For Les, the practical Bible-study lesson is always to ask to whom a passage is addressed, and here the answer is the nation of Israel—its rulers, elders, and people.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Peter's opening phrase is deliberately Jewish. The pagan world had no emphasis on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but for Israel it was everything. Les insists that no one should push Gentiles into the text—Peter was addressing the nation of Israel.
Acts 4:5-6 lists the rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the kindred of the high priest. Les observes that these were all Jews—next of kin to the high priest, with no Gentile to be found in the verse. They were the religious leadership of the nation.
The leaders were grieved that Peter and the apostles taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. Les notes that the Sadducees, who denied any resurrection, were especially concerned. The leaders asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"—referring to the healing of the lame man.
Les Feldick says no. He explains that God had not yet given Israel instructions to go to the Gentiles; He was still dealing with His covenant people. Peter himself never had a ministry among Gentiles. So the address is not framed as an announcement to Gentiles, but as a direct word to Israel.
All Jewish Leadership
Les notes that every person in the temple leadership—priests, Sadducees, and Pharisees—was Jewish, and the Sadducees were particularly troubled by Peter's resurrection preaching.
Jew Only Address
Les points out that Peter answered the consternation of the Jews with "Ye men of Israel," not "...and all you Gentiles," showing the address was to Jews only.
No Mention of Gentiles
Les contrasts Peter's message to this massive crowd of Jews with any Gentile outreach, repeating that there is no mention of Gentiles and that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob meant nothing to Gentiles.
Nation of Israel Only
Les emphasizes the language of Acts 3:12 and warns against pushing anything into the text, insisting only the nation of Israel is in view.
Rulers and Elders of Israel
Les explains that Peter speaks as the spokesman to "ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel" and does not address Romans or Gentiles—he is talking to Jews.
No Gentile in the Verse
Les dissects Acts 4:5-7 and shows that rulers, elders, scribes, and the high priest's kindred are all Jews; no Gentile can be found in the verse.
Still Dealing with Israel
Les says God was still dealing with His covenant people, so Peter addressed Jews only—God had not yet given instructions to go to the Gentiles.
Ask To Whom It Is Addressed
Les teaches to always ask to whom a passage is addressed; Peter's words "ye men of Israel" are spoken to Israel, not to us in the same way.
Acts 3:12: And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
This is Peter's direct address to the crowd that gathered after the healing of the lame man; he calls them "Ye men of Israel."
Acts 4:5-6: And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
This lists the specific Jewish leaders who gathered to question Peter and John about the miracle.
Acts 4:7: And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
This shows the direct question the Jewish rulers and elders asked Peter about the healing of the lame man.
Acts 4:8: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
This is Peter's Spirit-filled response, explicitly naming his audience as the rulers of the people and elders of Israel.
No. According to Les Feldick, Peter's address was to Jews only. There is no mention of Gentiles in the text. Peter says "Ye men of Israel" and "Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel."
Peter and John had healed a lame man. The Jewish leaders, including the Sadducees, were grieved because Peter preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. They placed the apostles in custody and the next day asked by what power or name they had done the miracle.
Les says it is intrinsic to Bible study to ask to whom a passage is addressed. He points out that God was still dealing with Israel as His covenant people and that Peter never had a ministry among Gentiles, so the address is to the nation of Israel.
They were the Jewish religious leadership: the rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the kindred of the high priest. Les notes they were all Jews, with no Gentile included.
Watch the Teaching: Acts 4 Explained: No Other Name — Only Jesus Saves