Peter and John go up to the temple and enter by the famous "Beautiful Gate (Josephus “War of the Jews” Book 5 chapter 5 paragraph 3). They heal a well-known lame man who begged regularly at that gate and leads him by the hand into the temple (Acts 3:8). Everyone sees him walking and leaping and amazed, they follow them back out of the temple;
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.
On the Portico of Solomon, Peter addresses the crowd and quotes Moses from Deuteronomy 18:14-20:
Acts 3:22-23
Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
This is not simply a command to “Listen and obey”, where both actions are dependent on the recipient. It is rather “Everything said by the prophet will be heard and should be obeyed”. Only the second use of “listen” is subjunctive (a possibility), while the first is indicative (a surety).
God will not fail to communicate. Again from Deuteronomy 18:19, God says “I myself will require it of him”. Everyone will hear this prophet!
Still, however, many will not heed what is said and not experience His mercy, even when confronted by the visible power of God on the Day of Wrath (Revelation 16:1-11), which brings history to its conclusion.
Again, in mercy it is a conclusion that will not come until the Gospel of the Kingdom is proclaimed throughout the whole world (Matthew 24:14).
But at that conclusion, at the Great White throne (Revelation 20:11-15), again all will hear. For those condemned, they will, however, still not heed. There will be no repentance, but rather what Matthew describes a “gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:36-43). To understand the phrase, see its use at the Stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54).
You see this as well in Jesus’ description of Judgement Day (Matthew 25:31-46). Those condemned are given a chance to respond to the charge but do not either acknowledge their inaction or request forgiveness, but rather deflect the charge saying “Lord, when did we see you . . .”.
You see in this the juxtaposition of mercy and justice. No one will be ignorant of the charge and all that are damned will not be repentant.
