Acts 10:27 kjv
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Acts 10:27 nkjv
And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
Acts 10:27 niv
While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
Acts 10:27 esv
And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.
Acts 10:27 nlt
So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
Acts 10 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 10:34 | Peter began and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no favoritism. | Fulfillment of principle |
| Galatians 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ |
| Romans 2:10-11 | but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. | God's impartial judgment |
| Deuteronomy 10:17 | For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. | Old Testament affirmation |
| Psalm 145:17 | The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. | God's righteousness |
| Isaiah 56:7 | I will bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. | Prophecy of inclusion |
| Mark 12:14 | Teacher, they say. We know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by people; you don’t show favoritism. | Jesus on impartiality |
| Luke 4:18-19 | The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. | Jesus' mission statement |
| Acts 11:17 | So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” | Peter’s reflection |
| Acts 13:47 | For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” | Commission for Gentiles |
| Romans 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Greek. | Gospel's universal power |
| 1 Corinthians 12:13 | For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. | Spiritual unity |
| Ephesians 2:14 | For Christ himself has brought peace by making the two groups one and breaking down the dividing wall of hostility. | Breaking down barriers |
| Colossians 3:11 | Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. | Christ encompassing all |
| 1 Peter 2:10 | Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. | Identity in God's people |
| James 2:1-9 | My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. | Warning against partiality |
| Revelation 7:9 | After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. | Heavenly vision of inclusion |
| Philippians 2:3 | Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. | Humility and other-regard |
| 1 Samuel 16:7 | But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” | God looks at the heart |
| John 4:23-24 | Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. | True worship |
Acts 10 verses
Acts 10 27 Meaning
Peter entered, stood before them, and declared that it was undeniable that God is not partial. He is acceptable to God whoever fears Him and practices righteousness, regardless of their ethnic background. This declaration marks a pivotal moment in the spread of the Gospel, affirming that salvation through Jesus Christ is for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike.
Acts 10 27 Context
This verse is found in Acts chapter 10, which recounts the conversion of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and his household. Peter, a key apostle, was guided by a vision to visit Cornelius. Previously, Jewish believers were hesitant to associate with Gentiles, due to their strict interpretations of the Law concerning ritual purity. Peter's encounter with Cornelius and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles directly challenged these preconceived notions. This event serves as a critical turning point, demonstrating God's intent for the Gospel to reach all nations, thereby breaking down ethnic and social barriers within the early church.
Acts 10 27 Word Analysis
- "But" (Greek: ἀλλὰ - alla): This is a strong adversative conjunction, immediately contrasting Peter's previous actions or thoughts (likely the hesitation to enter the house of an uncircumcised Gentile) with his current understanding. It highlights a significant shift.
- "Peter" (Greek: Πέτρος - Petros): The chief of the apostles, a prominent leader, whose actions and acceptance of this new revelation carried significant weight for the early church.
- "opened his mouth" (Greek: ἤρξατο λέγειν - ērxato legein): This idiom signifies the commencement of speaking, often implying a deliberate and significant statement. It's not just talking; it's initiating an important discourse.
- "and said" (Greek: καὶ εἶπεν - kai eipen): A common formula for introducing direct speech.
- "Truly" (Greek: ἀληθῶς - alēthōs): An adverb emphasizing the certainty and veracity of what is about to be said. Peter is testifying to a truth he has come to firmly believe.
- "I perceive" (Greek: καταλαμβάνω - katalambanō): This verb implies grasping, understanding, or comprehending. Peter's perception is not intellectual alone, but a spiritual apprehension. It's a deep realization.
- "that God" (Greek: ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς - hoti ho Theos): Connects Peter's understanding to the divine source of this truth. The revelation originates from God.
- "shows no partiality" (Greek: οὐκ ἔστιν βλεποδοχοῦ - ouk estin blepodoxou): This is a key phrase.
- οὐκ (ouk): Negation.
- ἔστιν (estin): Is.
- βλεποδοχοῦ (blepodoxou): A hapax legomenon (occurs only once) in the New Testament, derived from βλέπω (blepo, "to see") and δέχομαι (dechomai, "to receive"). It literally means "to receive with partiality" or "to look favorably upon one person more than another," i.e., showing favoritism based on external appearances or status. God does not play favorites.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "God shows no partiality": This is a direct theological statement that forms the core of Peter's message here. It means God's favor and acceptance are not biased towards any specific group of people (like the Jews historically) but are available to anyone who meets His conditions of faith and righteousness.
Acts 10 27 Bonus Section
The Greek word βλεποδοχοῦ (blepodoxou) used here is significant because it's unique to this verse in the New Testament. It encapsulates the very essence of favoritism that God abolishes. Scholars have noted its compound nature points to "looking upon the face of another," a common Near Eastern concept of showing preference to someone of higher status or of one's own group. Peter is saying this behavior is entirely foreign to God's character and salvific plan, which is centered on genuine devotion and righteous living regardless of outward identity. This concept echoes in the Old Testament, particularly in Deuteronomy 10:17, where God's impartiality is highlighted as a divine attribute.
Acts 10 27 Commentary
Peter's bold declaration in this verse is a monumental affirmation of God's inclusive nature. He has grasped that the divine invitation to salvation extends beyond the boundaries of Judaism to embrace all humanity. This isn't a passive acceptance but an active demonstration that God evaluates individuals based on their inner disposition – their reverence for God and their practice of righteousness – rather than their ethnic origin or adherence to ceremonial laws. This understanding, prompted by the Holy Spirit's palpable presence upon Cornelius and his household, empowers Peter to break centuries of cultural and religious precedent. It's the dawning realization that the Messiah's work is for the reconciliation of the entire world, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about a light to the Gentiles and making God's house a house of prayer for all peoples.