199 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 2 - Part 3 - Book 17 - Explanation of Acts 2:38

"Him (Jesus), being delivered by the determinate counsel (that word counsel is spelled with an "se" so it denotes a meeting of minds? determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God,..."
Well Peter has just accused Israel of killing their Messiah. But was God taken by surprise? That also was in the predeterminate counsel of God. The other word I like to point out is His foreknowledge. Come to I Peter Chapter 1:
I Peter 1:1,2a
"PETER an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers (always realize to whom a particular Scripture is written. Peter here is basically writing to Jews out in the dispersion) scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect (believing Jews) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,..."
God in His foreknowledge knew what everyone who has ever lived or will live, would do with His offer of Salvation. Yes, God knew in His foreknowledge which of these Jews would be believers that Peter is writing to. So Peter tells them that they didn't take God by surprise when they crucified Him, He knew they would. "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:" And I'm glad we don't have to sit under that accusation Sunday after Sunday, hearing someone tell us that we killed The Messiah. But here Peter is accusing these Jews that they killed Him. Verse 24:
Peter is absolutely going to confirm His death, burial, and Resurrection. Now verse 25:
David here is quoting Christ you might say. So Peter quotes the Psalms in verse 27:
Now Peter comes back to his own first person speaking and he says:
A King. And Peter is driving home the point that their King that they crucified and killed can still be their King, since God has raised Him from the dead.
"He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ (David wasn't speaking concerning himself, he was speaking concerning Christ. That death and hell couldn't hold Him), that his (Christ) soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption."
Why didn't Mary recognize Jesus on that early Resurrection morning? "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."
Remember if there is one proof of Resurrection that stands out above all others, it is Peter himself. Peter, you see at the night of the arrest and conviction, was fearful for his life. The proof of Resurrection! We should have no fear of death, because death is going to be so temporary, because of Resurrection power. Now verse 33, and Peter is referring to Christ.
Acts 2:33
Again to prove that God was in all of this.
"For David is not ascended into the heavens (the Psalms were referring to Christ rather than David); but he saith himself, `The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,'"
A time word. Verse 36:
Israel has had The Messiah for three years, performing signs and miracles, they crucified Him, God raised Him from the dead, and sent the Holy Spirit, and everything is falling into place) let all the house of Israel..."
Peter is speaking to Jews on Covenant grounds. It's the fulfilling of the Covenant which God made with Abraham. According to Peter, the Crucifixion, Resurrection, ascension and coming of the Holy Spirit was prophesied. Look at verse 25:
"Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant (only the Nation of Israel. Jeremiah 30 tells us it's the time of Jacob's trouble) which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, `And in thy seed (through the Nation of Israel) shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.'"
So Peter is on Covenant ground. He's still on the basis that everything that has been since Abraham, that is: the Nation of Israel was to receive the Redeemer, The Messiah, The King and the Kingdom, and it would be through Israel that God would gather the Gentiles. I never like to leave people with the idea that God had cast off the Gentiles. Even right here God has never said a word to anybody that He's setting the Covenant promises aside for awhile. Search the Scriptures, but be sure you understand that the Scripture is putting Salvation on His death, burial, and Resurrection. Remember, there is never any reason to force anything into Scripture. So here Peter is still on Covenant ground. Now we have to compare Scripture with Scripture. We just saw Peter accusing the Nation of Israel of killing their Messiah, and now look what Paul tells us here in the Church Age.
"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins,..."
It's as different as day from night with Peter's message. Peter's sermon just doesn't fit Paul's doctrine at all. God hadn't revealed Paul's message yet. It's still a secret kept in the mind of God. Remember Peter is addressing this great crowd of Jews on Covenant ground.