Acts 10:34
in Acts 10Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
KJV
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
⋯
This verse in Acts 10
Commentary
11 notes on this verseGod is no respecter of persons - He does God esteem a Jew, because he is a Jew; nor does he detest a Gentile because he is a Gentile. It was a long and deeply rooted opinion among the Jews, that God never would extend his favor to the Gentiles; and that the descendants of Jacob only should enjoy his peculiar favor and benediction. Of this opinion was St. Peter, previously to the heavenly vision mentioned in this chapter.
This site's exposition
God is no respecter of persons
on Acts 10:34-35
Peter opens his mouth with the conclusion the whole chapter has been building toward, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, a statement of principle Peter states as something he has only now fully perceived rather than always known. But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him does not teach that good works apart from Christ save a person, since the rest of Peter's own sermon goes on to preach faith in Jesus's name for remission of sins, but that no nation is excluded in advance from being sought and reached. The bench reads this verse as the doctrinal center the entire Cornelius narrative exists to establish, the truth the vision, the voice, and the two converging households were all sent to teach one reluctant apostle.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Even if God is merciful, were he always granting the prayers of all he would seem no longer to act freely, but, as it were, like someone under compulsion. Then, since all ask, if he were to hear all, no one would die. How many things do you not ask for daily? Must God's design be destroyed because of you? When you know that a petition cannot always be granted, why do you grieve that sometimes your petition is not obtained?
"And Peter opening his mouth, said," etc. Peter said: "In very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons, but that a man who worketh justice in any nation becometh pleasing to him." Then, continuing with words of the right faith, he …
"God [you remember] is no respecter of person." Rather, if he finds even one person in such a multitude doing what pleases him, far from scorning him he regales him with his particular providence and shows the greater care for him the more closely he has chosen the way of virtue at a time when there are others who are bent on evil.
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." That is, be he uncircumcised or circumcised. This also Paul declaring, saith, "For there is no respect of persons with God." And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. This he said also by way of justifying himself with the Jews then present. For, being at the point to commit the Word to these Gentiles, he first puts this by way of apology. What then? Was He "a respecter of persons" beforetime? God forbid! For beforetime likewise it was just the same.
Further, Peter in the Acts says, "Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted by Him." The absence of respect of persons in God is not then in time, but from eternity. Nor had His beneficence a beginning; nor any more is it limited to places or persons. For His beneficence is not confined to parts.
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Truly I perceive…" I perceive that God does not look at the quality of a person's face, but at the distinction of deeds. By what Peter says, he clearly shows that the God whom Cornelius feared, about whom he received instruction from the law and …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
I perceive of a truth - More clearly than ever, from such a concurrence of circumstances. That God is not a respecter of persons - Is not partial in his love. The words mean, in a particular sense, that he does not confine his love to one nation; in a general, that he is loving to every man, and willeth all men should be saved.
Then Peter opened his mouth,.... See Gill on Act 8:
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Then Peter opened his mouth - Began to speak, Mat 5:2. Of a truth - Truly, evidently. That is, I have evidence here that God is no respecter of persons. Is no respecter of persons - The word used here denotes “the act of showing favor to one on account of rank, family, wealth, or partiality arising from any cause.” It is explained in Jas 2:1-4. A judge is a respecter of persons when he favors one of the parties on account of private friendship, or because he is a man of rank, influence, or power, or because he belongs to the same political party, etc. The Jews supposed that they were especially favored by God. and that salvation was not extended to other nations, and that the fact of being a Jew entitled them to this favor. Peter here says that he had learned the error of this doctrine, and that a man is not to be accepted because he is a Jew, nor to be excluded because he is a Gentile. The barrier is broken down; the offer is made to all; God will save all on the same principle; not by external privileges or rank, but according to their character. The same doctrine is elsewhere explicitly stated in the New Testament, Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25. It may be observed here that this does not refer to the doctrine of divine sovereignty or election. It simply affirms that God will not save a man because he is a Jew, or because he is rich, or learned, or of elevated rank, or on account of external privileges; nor will he exclude a man because he is destitute of these privileges. But this does not affirm that he will not make a difference in their character, and then treat them according to their character, nor that he will not pardon whom he pleases. That is a different question. The interpretation of this passage should be limited strictly to the case in hand - to mean that God will not accept and save a man on account of external national rank and privileges. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀνοίξας | anoixas | Having opened | G455 → | 77 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| Πέτρος | petros | Peter | G4074 → | 155 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| στόμα | stoma | mouth | G4750 → | 78 times |
| εἶπεν· | eipen | he said; | G2036 → | 925 times |
| ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | Of | G1909 → | 883 times |
| ἀληθείας | aletheias | a truth | G225 → | 109 times |
| καταλαμβάνομαι | katalambanomai | I grasped | G2638 → | 13 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| προσωπολήμπτης | prosopolemptes | One who shows partiality | G4381 → | |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεός, | theos | God, | G2316 → | 1312 times |
ἈνοίξαςHaving opened
anoixasG455 →77 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
ΠέτροςPeter
petrosG4074 →155 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
στόμαmouth
stomaG4750 →78 times
εἶπεν·he said;
eipenG2036 →925 times
ἐπ᾽Of
ep᾽G1909 →883 times
ἀληθείαςa truth
aletheiasG225 →109 times
καταλαμβάνομαιI grasped
katalambanomaiG2638 →13 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
προσωπολήμπτηςOne who shows partiality
prosopolemptesG4381 →
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεός,God,
theosG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 2:11For God does not show favoritism.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 2:6
But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Job 34:19
who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Chronicles 19:7
And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
- Galatians 6:7–8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
- Deuteronomy 10:17
Through
Deuteronomy 10:17For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
it leads to
- Romans 2:11
For God does not show favoritism.
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 2:47
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
- Nehemiah 9:32
So now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God who keeps His gracious covenant, do not view lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, and upon our kings and leaders,…
- Romans 2:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies7
About Acts

This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On the Death of Satyrus 1.65; Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 6; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 22.18; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 23; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
