Peter used this phrase because he was speaking to Israel in distinctly Jewish covenant language, identifying the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In Acts 5:30 Peter says, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree." Les Feldick explains that this language excludes Gentiles and points to the covenant with the patriarchs. Peter then uses that same covenant God as the basis for charging Israel with delivering up and killing Jesus, while showing God had raised Him from the dead.
Acts 5:30 — This is the exact verse behind the question, where Peter uses 'the God of our fathers' to say God raised up Jesus.
Acts 5:30 records Peter's words to the Jewish council: "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree." In Acts 3:13, Peter also says, "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." Scripture also records in Acts 3:15: "And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses." Thus, the Bible itself shows Peter presenting Jesus' resurrection as the action of the God of Israel, while at the same time confronting Jewish hearers with their role in His death.
Les Feldick stresses that the phrase "the God of our fathers" is distinctively Jewish. It identifies the Lord as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the patriarchs to whom the covenant promises were made. That wording, he says, meant everything to a Jew but nothing to Romans or Greek philosophers. Peter used it deliberately while addressing "Ye men of Israel" and "all the house of Israel." Les points out that no Gentiles are included. Peter then uses this covenantal context as the grounds to accuse the nation: "you delivered up and denied Him in the presence of Pilate" and "you killed the Prince of life." Even so, God raised Him from the dead. Les emphasizes that in Acts 3 Peter is not preaching that Jesus died for sins; instead he is declaring that the risen Jesus is the Christ, so that the Old Testament promises made to the fathers can still be fulfilled.
Les is emphatic. When Peter says "the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers," it includes not a single Gentile. He says, "This is so Jew only that you can't escape it." The address remains "Ye men of Israel" and "all the house of Israel," not "and you Gentiles."
Les explains that the Jew hung everything on Abraham. Romans could not care less who came from Abraham, but to Jews it meant everything that they were the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These were the same covenant promises that God repeated to Isaac and Jacob, and Peter claims them in Acts 3.
Peter's announcement that "the God of our fathers... hath glorified His Son Jesus" is immediately followed by the charge, "whom ye delivered up and denied... you killed the Prince of life." Les notes that Peter is accusing the nation of Israel point blank. But he also notes that while Israel killed their King and Messiah, this did not thwart God, because God raised Him from the dead.
Les says that if you study Acts, you will notice that "never does Peter associate salvation with His death, burial, and resurrection." All Peter claims is that Jesus was the Christ, that they had crucified Him, and that God raised Him from the dead, so He could still fulfill all the Old Testament promises because He was alive.
Why Repentance Was Offered to Israel — Acts 5 Explained
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is Jewish language
Les highlights that the phrase meant everything to a Jew but nothing to Romans or Greeks, and Peter uses it to say the same God has glorified His Son Jesus.
Peter never associates salvation with the cross in Acts 3
Les shows that Peter's resurrection message in Acts 3 did not preach Christ dying for sins; he simply declared Jesus was the Christ whom Israel killed and God raised, so Old Testament promises remain alive.
Covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Les ties Peter's phrase to the Genesis covenant repeated to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and shows Peter accusing Israel of delivering Jesus in Pilate's presence.
Jew-only address in Acts 3
Les says the wording includes not a single Gentile and is "so Jew only that you can't escape it," with Peter yet again saying, "You killed the Prince of life."
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, "...
Israel's killing did not thwart God
Les explains that though Israel killed their King, God raised Him from the dead, so the plan was not thwarted.
Peter is still addressing Ye men of Israel
Les emphasizes there are no Gentiles in the address, and that "God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob" was everything to the Jew.
Acts 5:30: The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
This is the exact verse where Peter uses the phrase 'the God of our fathers' in connection with Jesus being raised up.
Acts 3:13: 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.
Peter expands the phrase to explicitly name the patriarchs and immediately follows it with an accusation against Israel.
Acts 3:15: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Peter connects Israel's killing of Jesus with God raising Him from the dead, which is central to the question.
No. Les Feldick says it includes not a single Gentile. Peter is addressing 'Ye men of Israel' and 'all the house of Israel,' and the phrase 'God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob' was uniquely Jewish.
Peter's purpose was to confront Israel with their guilt while showing that God's resurrection of Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament promises. Les explains that even though they killed their Messiah, God raised Him from the dead and still could give them the Kingdom.
Les says that in the book of Acts, Peter never associates salvation with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection in that context. He declares that Jesus is the Christ, that they killed Him, and that God raised Him.
Watch the Teaching: Why Repentance Was Offered to Israel — Acts 5 Explained