Acts 10 34

Acts 10:34 kjv

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Acts 10:34 nkjv

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

Acts 10:34 niv

Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

Acts 10:34 esv

So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

Acts 10:34 nlt

Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.

Acts 10 verses

Acts 10 34 Meaning

Acts 10:34 conveys Peter's profound revelation that God shows no favoritism or partiality based on external human distinctions such as ethnicity, social status, or religious background. This statement means God assesses all individuals based on their heart's response to Him and their obedience, rather than superficial qualities or affiliations. It signifies the universal accessibility of God's grace and salvation.

Acts 10 34 Context

Peter's declaration in Acts 10:34 is a watershed moment in the early Christian movement. Before this, the prevailing Jewish understanding, even among the apostles, held that salvation was primarily for the Jews, with Gentiles potentially included only by first converting to Judaism (circumcision, adherence to the Law).

Chapter 10 recounts two parallel divine interventions:

1. Cornelius's Vision: A Roman Centurion, devout and God-fearing, receives a vision instructing him to send for Peter.
2. Peter's Vision: Peter, in Joppa, has a vision of a sheet descending from heaven containing all kinds of "unclean" animals. A voice commands him to eat, declaring, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." This challenges his deeply ingrained dietary and, by extension, social/religious separation from Gentiles.

Immediately after this vision, messengers from Cornelius arrive. Peter, guided by the Holy Spirit, accompanies them to Caesarea. When he arrives at Cornelius's house, a Roman's home, which was unlawful for a Jew to enter, he is astonished to find a large gathering eager to hear his words. It is in response to this overwhelming evidence – his vision, the Spirit's command, and the expectant, open hearts of Cornelius and his household – that Peter finally grasps the profound truth: God does not discriminate. This realization breaks down a major barrier in the early church, paving the way for the full inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian community without ethnic preconditions.

Acts 10 34 Word analysis

• Then Peter opened his mouth:

  • This is a common biblical idiom, especially in Greek (ἀνοίγω τὸ στόμα, anoigō to stoma), signifying a formal, deliberate, and important discourse. It indicates that Peter is not speaking casually but making a weighty pronouncement with significant implications. It points to a carefully considered statement, often following a moment of contemplation or revelation.

• and said:

  • Greek: eipen (εἶπεν). A simple verb indicating verbal communication.

• Truly I understand:

  • Greek: ep' aletheias katalambanomai (ἐπ’ ἀληθείας καταλαμβάνομαι).
  • Ep' aletheias means "in truth" or "certainly." It adds emphasis and certifies the statement's veracity and the certainty of Peter's realization.
  • Katalambanomai (καταλαμβάνομαι) means "to grasp," "to comprehend fully," "to seize upon." It's not merely a mental ascent but a deep, revelatory understanding. For Peter, this was a profound shift in worldview, a divinely given insight that went against his traditional Jewish upbringing. It denotes a moment of spiritual epiphany after his visions and encounter with Cornelius.

• that God shows no partiality:

  • Greek: prosopoleptēs ouk estin ho Theos (προσωπολήμπτης οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ Θεός).
  • Prosopoleptēs (προσωπολήμπτης) is a key term, a compound word derived from prosopon (πρόσωπον, "face" or "appearance") and lambanō (λαμβάνω, "to take" or "receive"). It literally means "a receiver of faces" or "one who judges by appearances." This Greek term directly translates the Hebrew idiom nasa panim (נָשָׂא פָּנִים), "to lift up the face," which denotes showing favoritism or taking sides based on external factors like wealth, status, or kinship, rather than objective merit or justice.
  • Ouk estin (οὐκ ἔστιν) means "is not."
  • Ho Theos (ὁ Θεός) refers to "the God."
  • This phrase unequivocally states that God does not evaluate individuals based on their external characteristics, ethnic background, social standing, or any human-devised classifications. His judgment is based solely on a person's inner disposition and response to Him, making His standards universal and accessible to all.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Peter opened his mouth... Truly I understand": This signifies Peter's transition from prior assumption to divine revelation. His understanding isn't a mere academic conclusion but a Spirit-led realization of a foundational truth, challenging and transforming his deeply ingrained religious and cultural prejudices. This pivotal moment underscores that truth about God's universal plan often comes through divine encounters.
  • "that God shows no partiality": This core declaration refutes Jewish ethnocentric exclusivity and dismantles any belief that God favors one group over another simply by birthright or external identity. It's a statement of radical equality before God, indicating that the path to Him is open to all who respond in faith and obedience, regardless of their cultural or racial origin. This concept had been present in the Old Testament, but its practical application to direct Gentile inclusion was revolutionary for the early church leaders.

Acts 10 34 Bonus section

The Greek word for "shows partiality," prosopoleptēs, is primarily a Septuagintal (LXX) term, reflecting the Greek translation of the Hebrew phrase nasa panim. This connection highlights how Peter's understanding of God's impartiality draws from an ancient and consistent thread in the divine character, rather than being a brand-new concept. What was new was the radical application of this principle to the inclusion of Gentiles without requiring prior conversion to Judaism, effectively breaking down cultural and religious barriers to the Gospel. Peter's profound realization paves the way for the Gentile mission that characterizes much of the rest of the book of Acts through Paul's ministry. It undergirds the New Testament emphasis on spiritual transformation and faith over ethnic identity or adherence to ceremonial law.

Acts 10 34 Commentary

Acts 10:34 encapsulates a momentous theological truth, marking a decisive shift in the early church's understanding of God's universal plan of salvation. Peter's declaration that "God shows no partiality" is a direct challenge to the deeply entrenched Jewish belief of being God's exclusive chosen people by virtue of their lineage and the Mosaic Law. His previous ethnocentric perspective, highlighted by his reluctance to enter a Gentile home or eat unclean food, crumbles under the weight of divine revelation – his vision of the clean and unclean animals, followed by the undeniable reality of God's Spirit drawing the devout Gentile Cornelius.

This verse proclaims that access to God's grace and acceptance is not determined by race, nationality, social status, or religious rituals like circumcision, but by one's reverent fear of God and righteous conduct prompted by faith. It asserts God's consistent justice and equity, reinforcing the Old Testament principles that called for fair treatment of all and promised a blessing to all nations through Abraham's seed. For the New Covenant, it signifies the breaking down of the "dividing wall" between Jew and Gentile (Eph 2:14), affirming that the Gospel is genuinely for "whoever believes" (John 3:16, Rom 10:13). This theological pivot was fundamental to the global spread of Christianity.