Pentecost was no secret, but rather the DEFINITE fulfillment of PROPHECY. Acts 2:16 with Eph. 3:5; Acts 3:21 with Rom. 16:25; Acts 3:24 with Col. 1:26; Acts 3:25 with Rom. 5:11.
Pentecost was a Jewish Feast associated with ISRAEL'S REDEMPTION and KINGDOM calendar. Lev. 23:15-21; Deut.16:16.
At Pentecost, Israel was not yet set aside and was thus STILL God's channel of blessing to the nations. Acts 2:14,22,36. Acts 3:25,26. Acts 5:32. Gal. 3:28. Eph. 2:13-18.
Israel's PROMISED KINGDOM was being OFFERED during the Pentecostal era. Acts 2:36-40. Acts 3:18-26.
There was ALREADY A CHURCH IN EXISTENCE on the day of Pentecost- a PROPHESIED CHURCH. Acts 2:47(In order for something to be "added to" it HAD to have ALREADY EXISTED). Matt. 16:18,19. Heb. 2:12. Psalms 22:22.
Early Acts is a record of the "Pentecostal Era." Read Acts 2:1-11; 2:12-47; Acts 3:1-11; Acts 3:12-4:22; Acts 4:23-5:11; Acts 5:12-42; Acts 6"1-7 and Acts 6:8-8:1.
Which BTW, in the very next chapter, we have Paul being saved (Chapter 9). Coincidence?
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
I know these may seem to be harsh words. However, when I see those putting up walls on certain scriptures to make pieces "fit better" I hear alarms and whistles.
We give the Romans a hard time for doing this very same thing. They are master Jedis at wrongly dividing the Word of God. The Ginsu knives are in their hands constantly. We bear the same mistakes if we separate Paul from the other apostles and claim there is a differnt Gospel message. Just as Rome ignores most of Paul's epistles except I Corinthians 11 because it is a "key" passage for them to peddle transubstantiation. Then they ignore the rest or appeal to a 'higher' man-made authority to figure out the rest.
So some pastors and theologians are in error to say they are "rightly dividing the Word" by saying Peter did not preach repentance and faith in the shed Blood of Christ saves. They want to exclude Peter and the 11 in Acts because they don't come outright and say "Grace" when the actual ACT by Christ IS Grace. Since Peter uses the words "Baptism" and "forgive" in the same statement, that for some becomes an inconvenient truth and then have to find a way to diminish what was really going on. Peter did A LOT of talking before the cry for repenting, believing and baptizing. And in that long sermon are all the key elements in all its "Jewishness" which is exactly what Paul preaches to the Gentiles and Jews in his epistles.
If we compare the sermons in Acts 2&3 and what Peter speaks to Gentiles in Acts 10 you will not see much of a difference:
Acts 10:
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Now were Cornelius and his household who believed, received the Holy Spirit and were baptized, did they receive the Gospel of Grace or of the Kingdom?
I have already shown you this, but will add more by God's grace.
No death for our sins, and no grace message? This makes Christ's death and resurrection as related to forgiveness to be superfluous, and gained by merit, which is in contrast to what is preached. The devout Jews certainly understood what substitutionary atonement was, and Peter clearly stated that by slaying Christ and His resurrection then He became Lord and Savior. (Acts 2:36) The Lord's death and res. and forgiveness go together, as in Lk. 24:47; Acts 5:30,31, 13:26-39, and thus the promise of forgiveness and the Spirit was given, upon repentant faith, confessed in baptism. (Acts 2:38)
And which does not make this salvation by works anymore than a "sinner's prayer" does, not teach that the act is what makes one just.
And rather than Peter "preaching no sort of grace(!)," this is offered as unmerited favor to a people who were fit to be made the Lord's footstool and all that means - not a good place to be for eternity!
They were looking for Christ to return to set up the Kingdom, where they would be seated on 12 thrones, judging THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, that is what Christ told them they would be doing during the Kingdom reign (Matt. 19:28).
And yet this required repentance and faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the promise here is fulfilled in the church, as the apostles are part of the general priesthood, of which shall judge angels and reign with and under Christ 1k years. (Rn. 20:4,6)
). Where Israel would be a Nation of Priests to the Gentiles, as promised to Abraham. THAT is what they were doing on the day of Pentecost.
Not quite, but rather since Israel overall had rejected their King, redemption was offered to all, even "to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call," Acts 2:39) "and whosoever among you feareth God;" (Acts 13:26)
and thus the souls at Pentecost were part of a remnant exhorted to "Save yourselves from this untoward generation," which most of Israel consisted of.
So Peter could preach that "Christ died for our sins"? That wasn't even revealed until Paul was saved, when it was first revealed to HIM. That is Acts, Chapter 9.
Frankly, i see that as absurd and another example of not examing Scripture objectively. Was the Peter of Acts 2 the same apostle as the one in the gospels? If so then he surely knew that the Lord taught,
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)
Which is what Paul preached:
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6)
And thus, just as in Peter's initial sermon in Acts 2,since the prophesied death and resurrection took place, it followed that this provides for redemption for all, without need for making temple sacrifices:
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47)
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:30-31)
The two obviously go together, the former providing for the latter, and while redemption was first offered to the Jews first, so that a remnant would not follow the path of their leaders, yet the idea that Christ is offered as Messiah who did not die for our sins, and that redemption is offered by a works-based gospel, and not that of grace as Paul preached, is contrary to what was preached, and is forcing a hyperdispensational construct into the texts.
None of the rest of your proof texts support this two gospel premise.
There was ALREADY A CHURCH IN EXISTENCE on the day of Pentecost- a PROPHESIED CHURCH. Acts 2:47(In order for something to be "added to" it HAD to have ALREADY EXISTED).
The text there is simply referring to even more being added to the church which had its formal beginning at Pentecost, beginning the church age, although in essence, the church might be said to have begun with the calling of the apostles.
Early Acts is a record of the "Pentecostal Era."
And is seen at the end of Acts (28:3-9) and later as well. (Rm. 15:19; 1Cor. 12; Gal. 3:5)