Acts 10:27-35
New English Translation
27 Peter[a] continued talking with him as he went in, and he found many people gathered together.[b] 28 He said to them, “You know that[c] it is unlawful[d] for a Jew[e] to associate with or visit a Gentile,[f] yet God has shown me that I should call no person[g] defiled or ritually unclean.[h] 29 Therefore when you sent for me,[i] I came without any objection. Now may I ask why[j] you sent for me?” 30 Cornelius[k] replied,[l] “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock in the afternoon,[m] I was praying in my house, and suddenly[n] a man in shining clothing stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your acts of charity[o] have been remembered before God.[p] 32 Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon the tanner,[q] by the sea.’ 33 Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come.[r] So now we are all here in the presence of God[s] to listen[t] to everything the Lord has commanded you to say to us.”[u]
34 Then Peter started speaking:[v] “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,[w] 35 but in every nation[x] the person who fears him[y] and does what is right[z] is welcomed before him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 10:27 tn Grk “And he”; the referent (Peter) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
- Acts 10:27 tn Or “many people assembled.”
- Acts 10:28 tn Here ὡς (hōs) is used like ὅτι (hoti) to introduce indirect discourse (cf. BDAG 1105 s.v. ὡς 5).
- Acts 10:28 tn This term is used of wanton or callously lawless acts (BDAG 24 s.v. ἀθέμιτος).
- Acts 10:28 tn Grk “a Jewish man” (ἀνδρὶ ᾿Ιουδαίῳ, andri Ioudaiō).
- Acts 10:28 tn Grk “a foreigner,” but in this context, “a non-Jew,” that is, a Gentile. This term speaks of intimate association (BDAG 556 s.v. κολλάω 2.b.α). On this Jewish view, see John 18:28, where a visit to a Gentile residence makes a Jewish person unclean.
- Acts 10:28 tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos).
- Acts 10:28 tn Possibly there is a subtle distinction in meaning between κοινός (koinos) and ἀκάθαρτος (akathartos) here, but according to L&N 53.39 it is difficult to determine precise differences in meaning based on existing contexts.sn God has shown me…unclean. Peter sees the significance of his vision as not about food, but about open fellowship between Jewish Christians and Gentiles.
- Acts 10:29 tn Grk “Therefore when I was sent for.” The passive participle μεταπεμφθείς (metapemphtheis) has been taken temporally and converted to an active construction which is less awkward in English.
- Acts 10:29 tn Grk “ask for what reason.”
- Acts 10:30 tn Grk “And Cornelius.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
- Acts 10:30 tn Grk “said.”
- Acts 10:30 tn Grk “at the ninth hour.” Again, this is the hour of afternoon prayer.
- Acts 10:30 tn Grk “and behold.” The interjection ἰδού (idou) is difficult at times to translate into English. Here it has been translated as “suddenly” to convey the force of Cornelius’ account of the angel’s appearance.
- Acts 10:31 tn Or “your gifts to the needy.”
- Acts 10:31 sn This statement is a paraphrase rather than an exact quotation of Acts 10:4.
- Acts 10:32 tn Or “with a certain Simon Berseus.” Although most modern English translations treat βυρσεῖ (bursei) as Simon’s profession (“Simon the tanner”), it is possible that the word is actually Simon’s surname (“Simon Berseus” or “Simon Tanner”). BDAG 185 s.v. βυρσεύς regards it as a surname.
- Acts 10:33 tn Grk “you have done well by coming.” The idiom καλῶς ποιεῖν (kalōs poiein) is translated “be kind enough to do someth.” by BDAG 505-6 s.v. καλῶς 4.a. The participle παραγενόμενος (paragenomenos) has been translated as an English infinitive due to the nature of the English idiom (“kind enough to” + infinitive).
- Acts 10:33 tn The translation “we are here in the presence of God” for ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ πάρεσμεν (enōpion tou theou paresmen) is given by BDAG 773 s.v. πάρειμι 1.a.
- Acts 10:33 tn Or “to hear everything.”
- Acts 10:33 tn The words “to say to us” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Cornelius knows Peter is God’s representative, bringing God’s message.
- Acts 10:34 tn Grk “Opening his mouth Peter said” (a Semitic idiom for beginning to speak in a somewhat formal manner). The participle ἀνοίξας (anoixas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
- Acts 10:34 tn Grk “God is not one who is a respecter of persons,” that is, “God is not one to show partiality” (cf. BDAG 887 s.v. προσωπολήμπτης). L&N 88.239 translates this verse “I realize that God does not show favoritism (in dealing with people).” The underlying Hebrew idiom includes the personal element (“respecter of persons”) so the phrase “in dealing with people” is included in the present translation. It fits very well with the following context and serves to emphasize the relational component of God’s lack of partiality. The latter is a major theme in the NT: Rom 2:11; Eph 2:11-22; Col 3:25; Jas 2:1; 1 Pet 1:17. This was the lesson of Peter’s vision.
- Acts 10:35 sn See Luke 24:47.
- Acts 10:35 tn Or “shows reverence for him.”
- Acts 10:35 tn Grk “works righteousness”; the translation “does what is right” for this phrase in this verse is given by L&N 25.85.sn Note how faith and response are linked here by the phrase and does what is right.
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