John Calvin Commentary Acts 2:36

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified." — Acts 2:36 (ASV)

Therefore, let all the house of Israel know. The house of Israel did confess that the Christ who was promised should come, yet they did not know who He was. Therefore, Peter concludes that Jesus, whom they had handled so spitefully, indeed, whose name they detested so greatly, is He whom they ought to acknowledge as their Lord and whom they ought to reverence.

For, he says, God has made Him Lord and Christ; that is, you must look for no one else but Him whom God has made and given. Furthermore, he says that He was made Lord and Christ because God the Father gave Him this honor. He joins the title Lord with the word Christ because it was a common understanding among the Jews that the Redeemer would be anointed on this condition: that He might be the Head of the Church, and that the chief power over all things might be given to Him.

He speaks to the whole house of Israel, as if to say, "Whoever wishes to be reckoned among the sons of Jacob and also looks for the promise, let them know for certain that this is He and no one else." He uses the word house, because God had separated that name and family from all other peoples.

And he says ἀσφαλῶς (asphalōs), or "assuredly," not only so that they may place their sure confidence and trust in Christ, but also so that he may remove all occasion for doubting from those who often willingly doubt even about matters that are certain and sure. At the end of his speech, he again reproaches them for crucifying Him, so that, being touched with greater grief of conscience, they may desire a remedy.

And now, since they know that Jesus is the Anointed of the Lord, the governor of the Church, and the giver of the Holy Ghost, the accusation has all the more force. For putting Him to death was not only full of cruelty and wickedness, but also a testimony of outrageous disloyalty against God, of sacrilege, of unthankfulness, and, finally, of apostasy.

But it was requisite that they should be so wounded, lest they be slow to seek medicine. And yet, notwithstanding, they did not crucify Him with their own hands; but this is more than sufficient to make them guilty, in that they desired to have Him put to death.

And we also are accused by this same voice if we crucify Him in ourselves, He being already glorified in heaven, making a mockery of Him, as the Apostle says (Hebrews 6:6).