Acts 10:35 kjv
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Acts 10:35 nkjv
But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
Acts 10:35 niv
but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
Acts 10:35 esv
but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Acts 10:35 nlt
In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.
Acts 10 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:3 | "and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." | Universal blessing |
| Ps 145:17 | "The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works." | God's righteousness |
| Isa 43:11 | "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." | God as the only Savior |
| Isa 56:7 | "...my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." | House of prayer for all nations |
| Isa 56:10 | "they are all covetous dogs that never have enough..." | Contrast with faithful ones |
| Jer 31:34 | "for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest..." | New Covenant knowledge |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son..." | God's love for the world |
| John 4:21 | "Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father." | Universal worship |
| John 4:23 | "but an hour is coming, and is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..." | True worship |
| Rom 2:6 | "who will render to each according to his works:" | God's recompense according to works |
| Rom 2:11 | "For God shows no partiality." | Explicit statement of non-favoritism |
| Rom 3:22 | "even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." | Righteousness through faith |
| Rom 10:12 | "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all..." | No distinction between Jew/Gentile |
| Rom 11:17-24 | Analogy of the olive tree (Gentiles grafted in) | Gentiles grafted in |
| 1 Cor 12:13 | "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free..." | Unity in the Spirit |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity in Christ |
| Col 3:11 | "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." | Christ is all in all |
| Eph 2:14 | "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility..." | Breaking down the dividing wall |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace..." | Confidence in God's grace |
| 1 Pet 1:17 | "And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's work, conduct yourselves with fear..." | Impartial judgment |
| Rev 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages..." | Multitude from every nation |
| Rev 21:3-4 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them..." | God dwelling with His people |
| Deut 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 takes no bribe." | OT confirmation of non-favoritism |
Acts 10 verses
Acts 10 35 Meaning
God shows no favoritism; instead, every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is accepted by him.
Acts 10 35 Context
This verse is spoken by Peter in the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. It marks a pivotal moment in the early church, signifying the inclusion of Gentiles into God's covenant people. The Holy Spirit had fallen upon Cornelius and his household as Peter preached, validating their reception by God. This event followed Peter's vision (Acts 10:9-16) which revealed to him that he should not consider anything God had cleansed as unclean, specifically in relation to eating and associating with Gentiles. This declaration by Peter explicitly states the universality of God's grace, a concept that challenged the prevailing Jewish understanding of exclusivity.
Acts 10 35 Word analysis
- Truly (ἀληθῶς - alēthōs): Indeed; genuinely; verily. Emphasizes the certainty and truthfulness of the statement.
- God (ὁ θεός - ho theos): The Supreme Being, the Creator and Governor of the universe.
- shows (προσλαμβάνεται - proslambanetai): Takes to himself; receives; accepts. This implies an active and willing reception.
- no (οὐκ - ouk): Not.
- partiality (προσώπου - prosōpou): Literally, "of face." Figuratively means to accept a person based on their outward appearance, status, or favoritism towards one group over another.
- But (ἀλλ’ - all'): A conjunction introducing a contrast.
- in (ἐν - en): In; among.
- every (παντὶ - panti): Every single one; all.
- nation (ἔθνει - ethnei): A people, tribe, or nation. Refers to Gentile nations as distinct from Israel.
- he who (ὁ - ho): Refers back to any person.
- fears (φοβούμενος - phoboumenos): Reveres; stands in awe of; respects with reverence. This indicates a heart attitude of reverence for God.
- him (αὐτὸν - auton): Him (God).
- and (καὶ - kai): And.
- works (ἐργάζεται - ergazetai): Works; does. Implies performing actions that are pleasing to God.
- righteousness (δικαιοσύνην - dikaiosynēn): Righteousness, uprightness. Doing what is just and right according to God's will.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "God shows no partiality": This phrase directly echoes Deuteronomy 10:17, emphasizing God's impartial nature. It's a fundamental shift from a Jewish-centric view to a universal one, affirming that outward identity (Jew/Gentile) does not determine one's standing with God.
- "in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness": This defines the criteria for acceptance. Fear of God is an internal disposition of reverence, and working righteousness is the outward expression of that disposition. This includes sincere repentance and a desire to obey God, demonstrated by actions.
Acts 10 35 Bonus section
This verse is a cornerstone in understanding the progressive revelation of God's plan. In the Old Testament, God's covenant was primarily with Israel. However, prophecies like Isaiah 56:7 and Psalm 145:17 hinted at this broader inclusivity. The experience of Cornelius and his household, filled with the Holy Spirit before explicit baptism or conversion to Judaism, provided undeniable proof to Peter and the other Jewish believers that God had indeed extended His saving grace to the Gentiles on the same terms as the Jews. This principle of God's impartial love and universal gospel invitation is central to the Christian faith and was foundational for Paul's extensive ministry to the Gentile world.
Acts 10 35 Commentary
Peter's declaration powerfully asserts that God's acceptance is not conditional on ethnic background or adherence to Jewish customs. Instead, it is universally available to anyone, of any nation, who exhibits a genuine reverence for God and lives a life of uprightness and obedience. This marks a profound theological development, revealing the inclusive nature of God's salvific plan through Jesus Christ. The emphasis is on the sincerity of the heart and the resulting actions, rather than on external markers of religious or national identity. This understanding democratizes access to God, opening the door for all who turn to Him in faith and repentance.