Acts 10:34-35 34So opening his mouth, Peter said: “In truth, I understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation, the one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
As in other places in Acts, Luke provides a summary of what Peter shared with Cornelius and those gathered in his house. Peter’s message is a summary of the gospel. No doubt, what he actually shared was expanded and more detailed than the brief paragraph Luke records. The message is a good example of an evangelistic sermon meant to persuade the audience of the gospel and invite a decision to accept it in faith.
Verse 34 emphasizes God’s part. Peter began with a broad statement about the breadth of God’s grace. His approach was significant, considering that his audience was Gentile. God extends grace to all people, no matter what race, language, nation, or any other natural or human division. The form of the word partiality (prosōpolēmtēs) is used only here in the Testament but has the sense of showing special favor in the Old Testament Septuagint. Similar forms of the same basic word occur in James 2:1, 9; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; and Colossians 3:25. God does not judge on appearances, like people. His grace is for all, not a select group, like the Jews or people predestined to become Christians.
Verse 35 stresses the necessary human response to God’s grace implied in verse 34. Anyone who fears expresses the optimism of the gospel to change the world. The conditions are to fear and do right. These conditions should not be taken to mean that people have to work for their salvation but that they need to respond to God’s grace with faith and obedience. Fearing God indicates someone who believes in God and and shows this faith by worship. Doing right indicates that the faith in God is active and leads to a change of lifestyle. These persons have repented of their old ways and chosen to follow the way of righteousness. They do not have to do this on their own strength because God provides the grace to live in righteousness.
These two verses indicate that Peter finally caught on and fully embraced the meaning of his vision. He understood that the gospel was for the world and spoke a word of hope to Cornelius and his household. These significant verses reflect back on Jesus’ commission in 1:8. The witness of the good news must go out to every nation, without prejudice or condition. It is up to people to respond to this message. Many are like Cornelius and will accept the message in faith and obedience, but they need to hear it through people obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, like Peter.
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