No — Peter did not present Christ's death and resurrection as the means of salvation because, as Les Feldick explains, God had not yet revealed that truth when Peter preached.
In the Acts sermons, Peter confirms who Jesus is rather than announcing the cross as the basis of salvation. He reminds Israel that they crucified their Messiah and that God raised Him, but he does not attach salvation to those events. Les teaches that these truths were still a secret kept in the mind of God and had not yet been revealed to Peter.
Acts 2:22–24 — Records Peter's account of Jesus' miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection — none of which he presents as the means of salvation.
Acts 2:36 — Peter's conclusion identifies Jesus as Lord and Christ rather than as the sacrificial substitute for sin.
Acts 10:34–38 — Shows Peter still centering on Jesus' identity, healing, and the word sent to Israel rather than on the atonement.
In Acts 2, Peter addresses 'Ye men of Israel' and rehearses the facts of Jesus' earthly ministry: 'Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs.' He then says of Jesus, 'ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain,' and that 'God hath raised him up.' He closes by declaring, 'God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.' Nothing in these quoted words says that Christ's death and resurrection are the means of salvation. In Acts 10, when Peter speaks to Cornelius, he again begins with Jesus' anointing, His good works, and His healing 'all that were oppressed of the devil.' Before that, he says that in every nation, 'he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.' Again, the death and resurrection are not announced as the gospel by which people are saved.
Les Feldick stresses that Peter never mentions Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, nor the shed blood for atonement, in his early Acts sermons. Instead, Peter uses the name of Jesus to identify who He is — the Christ, the Messiah of Israel. Les says Peter could not preach the crucified and risen Christ for salvation because God had not yet revealed that message. It was still a secret kept in the mind of God. Peter was still on covenant ground with Israel, and God had not yet told anyone that the Law and temple worship were set aside. Paul's later message — 'while we were yet sinners, He died for us' — was not Peter's message, and Les says it wasn't supposed to be.
According to Les, Peter's emphasis was on the identity of Jesus. The name of Jesus would have immediately associated Him with His office — the Messiah of Israel, the King, the Savior, the Redeemer. Peter hoped Israel would wake up and realize that the One they killed was the promised Messiah. He did not base salvation on the events of the crucifixion and resurrection.
Les explains that Peter did not know the cross-and-resurrection salvation message because God had not revealed it yet. As far as revelation was concerned, it was still a secret. Peter had no way to proclaim what God had not yet said. At that point Paul's message had not yet been given.
Les draws a sharp contrast: Paul's theme is that God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, He died for us. Peter's word to Israel is, 'You killed Him.' Les says Peter's sermon simply does not fit Paul's doctrine, and it wasn't supposed to, because God had not revealed Paul's message yet.
Scripture records that Peter does mention the historical facts. He tells the men of Israel that they took Jesus and crucified and slew Him, and that God raised Him up. But Les observes that Peter states these as facts; he does not ascribe salvation to them. What Peter wants his hearers to associate with Jesus' name is not the atonement but His office as Israel's Messiah.
Peter's Message to Cornelius
Les reads Peter's Acts 10 message to show that even when Peter begins to understand that God accepts people in every nation, the word was still sent first to the children of Israel and centers on Jesus' anointed ministry.
The Name Implies the Office
Les shows that Peter does not mention Christ's death, burial, or resurrection in Acts 2; he gives the name of Jesus, which points to who He is — the Messiah of Israel.
Facts Without Salvation Attached
Les explains that Peter states the crucifixion and resurrection as historical facts, but never ascribes salvation to those events in his Acts 2 sermon.
Israel Still Must Believe First
Les says Peter is still hoping Israel will realize that the One they killed was the promised Messiah; there is no thought yet of including Gentiles.
On Covenant Ground
Les insists God had not yet revealed that the Law and temple worship would be set aside, and nowhere in Peter's early preaching does salvation rest on the crucified and risen Christ.
God Had Not Yet Revealed It
Les says Peter does not know the death-and-resurrection salvation message yet because God had not revealed it; it was still secret.
No Reference to the Atonement
Les points out that Peter's use of Jesus' name is meant to identify His office — Messiah, King, Savior, Redeemer of Israel — and there is not a single reference to atoning blood, death, or resurrection.
Peter vs. Paul
Les contrasts Peter's 'you killed Him' with Paul's 'while we were yet sinners, He died for us,' showing Peter's sermon was not meant to fit Paul's later doctrine, which was still a secret kept in the mind of God.
Acts 2:22: Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Peter starts his Acts 2 sermon by establishing Jesus' identity through His miracles rather than through the cross.
Acts 2:23: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Peter states the fact of the crucifixion without making it the ground of salvation.
Acts 2:24: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Peter announces the resurrection as historical fact.
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.
Peter's conclusion is that Jesus is Lord and Christ — the point of his message.
Acts 10:34: Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Peter's later message to Cornelius begins with God's impartiality.
Acts 10:35: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Peter's statement to Cornelius that God accepts those in every nation who fear Him and work righteousness.
Acts 10:36: The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Even to Cornelius, Peter notes the word was sent first to the children of Israel.
Acts 10:38: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Peter's summary of Jesus' ministry highlights His works, not His atoning death.
Les teaches that the revelation of salvation through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection had not yet been given when Peter preached in Acts. Peter's message was still on covenant ground with Israel, and he focused on who Jesus was — the Messiah and King of Israel — not on the atoning work of the cross.
No, according to Les. Peter says to Israel, 'You killed Him,' while Paul's later theme is that Christ died for us. Les says the difference is as clear as daylight and dark, and Peter's sermon wasn't supposed to fit Paul's doctrine because God had not yet revealed Paul's message.
Yes. In Acts 2 he states that God raised Jesus up after He was crucified. But Les points out that Peter merely states it as a fact; he does not present the resurrection as the saving event that it becomes in Paul's gospel.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did the Holy Spirit Fall BEFORE Baptism? Acts 10