Acts 10 31

Acts 10:31 kjv

And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Acts 10:31 nkjv

and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

Acts 10:31 niv

and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.

Acts 10:31 esv

and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.

Acts 10:31 nlt

He told me, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God!

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 31 Meaning

This verse records Peter's declaration that God accepted gentiles as readily as Jews. It signifies a pivotal moment in early Christianity, marking the definitive inclusion of non-Jews into the faith. The acceptance is presented as universal and based on faith, not on adherence to Jewish law or customs. God showed no favoritism, a radical concept for the time.

Acts 10 31 Context

This verse is spoken by the apostle Peter during a pivotal event described in Acts chapter 10. Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, had a vision instructing him to send for Peter. Concurrently, Peter had a vision of a sheet lowered from heaven, filled with all kinds of animals, unclean and clean. A voice told Peter to kill and eat. Peter initially refused, stating he had never eaten anything impure or unclean. The voice responded, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This occurred three times. As Peter was pondering the vision, Cornelius's messengers arrived. Peter then went to Cornelius's house, accompanied by several believers from Joppa. While Peter was speaking to Cornelius and his household, the Holy Spirit descended upon all who heard his message. This signified God's acceptance of the Gentiles, paralleling His acceptance of Jewish believers. The verse reflects Peter's direct experience and declaration of this divinely orchestrated inclusion.

Acts 10 31 Word Analysis

• Kaὶ (kai): "and." A common conjunction, connecting phrases and ideas, signifying the flow of Peter's explanation.
• ἐν (en): "in," "at," "on." Preposition indicating the sphere or circumstance.
• ἀληθείᾳ (alētheia): "truth," "sincerity," "reality." A noun meaning what is true, the truth. It highlights the objective reality of God's acceptance.
• εὑρίσκω (heuriskō): "to find," "to discover," "to meet with." Verb in the present indicative active, "I find." It expresses a discovery or realization on Peter's part.
• ὅτι (hoti): "that," "because." Conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, stating the content of Peter's realization.
• οὐκ (ouk): "not." Negative particle.
• ἔστιν (estin): "is." Third-person singular present indicative of εἰμί (eimi), "to be."
• πρόσωπον (prosōpon): "face," "person," "countenance." Noun meaning a person's outward appearance or presence. Here it signifies individual worth or status.
• λαμβάνω (lambanō): "to take," "to receive," "to accept." Third-person singular present indicative middle/passive of λαμβάνω, "to take" or "to receive." In the passive form, it means "is received," "is accepted."
• λαμβάνω is key here, referring to accepting someone, showing partiality or favoritism. God does not pick and choose based on outward appearance or ethnicity.
• προσωπολήπτης (prosōpolēptēs): "respecter of persons," "one who shows favoritism." Compound word: πρόσωπον (prosōpon, "face") and λαμβάνω (lambanō, "to take/receive"). A noun referring to someone who shows partiality. God is not a "face-receiver."
• ἀλλ’ (all'): "but." Conjunction indicating a contrast or exception.
• ἐν (en): "in," "at," "on." Preposition.
• παντὶ (panti): "every," "all." Dative masculine/neuter singular of πᾶς (pas, "all, every"). Referring to every nation.
• ἔθνει (ethnei): "nation," "people," "gentile." Dative neuter singular of ἔθνος (ethnos, "nation, people, gentile"). The emphasis is on all nations, not just Israel.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I now realize": Signifies a transition for Peter from previous limited understanding to a new truth. The emphasis is on realization or discovery of a previously unknown truth.
• "God does not show favoritism": This is a definitive statement of God's impartiality. The term prosōpolēptēs directly addresses the practice of showing preference based on outward characteristics.
• "but in every nation": This phrase establishes the scope of God's acceptance. It extends beyond the traditional boundaries of Israel to all ethnic groups.
• "the one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him": This clause defines the criteria for God's acceptance. It is based on fear of God (reverence and obedience) and righteous action, regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation.

Acts 10 31 Bonus Section

The event at Cornelius's house and Peter's subsequent explanation in Acts 10 are crucial for understanding the development of the early church's mission. This moment directly led to the decision at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, where it was confirmed that Gentile believers did not need to be circumcised or adhere to the Mosaic Law to be saved. The Holy Spirit's work among the Gentiles, evidenced by their receiving the Spirit and speaking in tongues (Acts 10:44-46), served as powerful confirmation of God's will, paralleling the signs given to the Jews. This event directly counters any form of religious exclusivism, emphasizing that faith and obedience are the universal qualifications for God's favor.

Acts 10 31 Commentary

Peter's declaration here marks a monumental shift in the understanding and practice of the early church. It's not just a statement of theological accuracy; it's a public confession of a truth revealed to him directly by God. This realization broke down deeply ingrained Jewish barriers that segregated them from Gentiles. The acceptance into God's covenant community was now explicitly declared to be not on the basis of ethnicity or adherence to Jewish law, but on a sincere reverence for God and righteous conduct. This opened the floodgates for the gospel to spread universally, fulfilling ancient prophecies of God's plan for all nations.