Peter urged home upon the convicted people the fact that they had rejected Christ because they had been deceived by priests and rulers; and that if they continued to look to these men for counsel, and waited for them to acknowledge Christ before they dared to do so, they would never accept Him. These powerful men, though making a profession 44 of godliness, were ambitious for earthly riches and glory. They were not willing to come to Christ to receive light.

Peter betonede stærkt overfor det overbeviste folk den kendsgerning, at de havde korsfæstet Kristus, fordi de havde ladet sig føre bag lyset af præsterne og rådsherrerne, og at hvis de blev ved med at se hen til disse mænd for at få råd og ventede, at de skulle anerkende Kristus, før de selv vovede at gøre det, så ville de aldrig komme til at tage imod ham. Skønt disse mægtige mænd havde gjort fromheden til en livsstilling, higede de efter jordisk rigdom og ære. De var ikke villige til at komme til Kristus for at modtage lyset.