What does it mean that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)?

Response

In Acts 10:34, the apostle Peter proclaims that “God shows no partiality” (KJV). To grasp the significance of this verse, we need to first examine the context of Acts 10.

Acts 10:1–8 introduces us to Cornelius, a “centurion of what was known as the Italian cohort” (verse 1, ESV). Despite being a Gentile, Luke portrays Cornelius and his household as “devout and God-fearing,” with Cornelius “generously giving to those in need and praying to God regularly” (verse 2).

An angel of God appears to Cornelius in a vision and directs him to “send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter” «Now send men to Joppa and bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter: », (Acts 10:5, ESV). Cornelius follows the angel’s instructions precisely (verses 7–8).

As the messengers near Joppa, Peter experiences a vision from the Lord (Acts 10:9-16). In Peter’s vision, a large sheet descends from heaven, containing “all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air,” both clean and unclean creatures (verse 12, ESV). Suddenly, a voice tells Peter to “kill and eat” (verse 13). Peter, a devout Jew, rejects the command: “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean” (verse 14, ESV). The Lord replies, “What God has made clean, do not call common” (verse 15, ESV). This vision is repeated three times for emphasis (verse 16).

Shortly after Peter’s vision, the messengers reach Joppa «While Peter was pondering the vision he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius had asked for Simon’s house and were standing at the gate, », Acts 10:17. The Holy Spirit then instructs Peter to “accompany them without hesitation” (verse 20, ESV).

The following day, Peter travels to Caesarea with Cornelius’s messengers «And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. », Acts 10:24. When Peter enters Cornelius’s home, Cornelius falls at his feet and begins to worship him (verse 25). Peter promptly lifts him up and refuses to receive the worship (verse 26).

Peter acknowledges the unusual circumstances that led him to Cornelius’s home Acts 10:28-29. Although it was unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile, God showed Peter that he should not despise or reject anyone (verses 28–29). In response, Cornelius recounts the vision that he received from an angel of the Lord (verse 30–32). He then expresses a desire to hear what Peter had to share with him and his household (verse 33). It is at this point that Peter declares, “I perceive that God is no respecter of persons” (verse 34, KJV). Or, as the ESV has it, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.”

The statement “God is no respecter of persons” means that God does not show favoritism or partiality. In other words, the free offer of the gospel is available to all—Jew and Gentile alike «but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. », cf: 1 Corinthians 1:24.

In the Old Testament, God established a covenant relationship with Israel «For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. », (Deuteronomy 7:6). This belief led many Jews to consider Gentiles as “unclean” and beyond the reach of God’s saving grace.

Peter’s vision and subsequent encounter with Cornelius shattered the Jewish belief in exclusivity. God revealed to Peter that His redemptive plan included both Jews and Gentiles (cf. John 10:16). Peter’s statement that “God shows no partiality” confirms that the gospel of Jesus Christ is accessible to everyone, regardless of nationality or social status. This profound truth breaks down barriers between nations and unites individuals from various backgrounds (see Ephesians 2:11-22).

As Christians, we are instructed to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19‭-‬20;ESV, emphasis added).‬