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34 Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,[a] “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.(A) 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. 36 [b]You know the word [that] he sent to the Israelites[c] as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,(B) 37 what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached,(C) 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth[d] with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.(D) 39 We are witnesses[e] of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and [in] Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 40 This man God raised [on] the third day and granted that he be visible, 41 not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.(E) 42 He commissioned us(F) to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.[f] 43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

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Footnotes

  1. 10:34–35 The revelation of God’s choice of Israel to be the people of God did not mean he withheld the divine favor from other people.
  2. 10:36–43 These words are more directed to Luke’s Christian readers than to the household of Cornelius, as indicated by the opening words, “You know.” They trace the continuity between the preaching and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and the proclamation of Jesus by the early community. The emphasis on this divinely ordained continuity (Acts 10:41) is meant to assure Luke’s readers of the fidelity of Christian tradition to the words and deeds of Jesus.
  3. 10:36 To the Israelites: Luke, in the words of Peter, speaks of the prominent position occupied by Israel in the history of salvation.
  4. 10:38 Jesus of Nazareth: God’s revelation of his plan for the destiny of humanity through Israel culminated in Jesus of Nazareth. Consequently, the ministry of Jesus is an integral part of God’s revelation. This viewpoint explains why the early Christian communities were interested in conserving the historical substance of the ministry of Jesus, a tradition leading to the production of the four gospels.
  5. 10:39 We are witnesses: the apostolic testimony was not restricted to the resurrection of Jesus but also included his historical ministry. This witness, however, was theological in character; the Twelve, divinely mandated as prophets, were empowered to interpret his sayings and deeds in the light of his redemptive death and resurrection. The meaning of these words and deeds was to be made clear to the developing Christian community as the bearer of the word of salvation (cf. Acts 1:21–26). Hanging him on a tree: see note on Acts 5:30.
  6. 10:42 As judge of the living and the dead: the apostolic preaching to the Jews appealed to their messianic hope, while the preaching to Gentiles stressed the coming divine judgment; cf. 1 Thes 1:10.

Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

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Peter's Speech

34 (A)Peter began to speak: “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. 35 Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. 38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. 40 But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, 41 not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. 42 And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name.”

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Gentiles Hear Good News

34 (A)Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that (B)God is not one to show partiality, 35 but (C)in every nation the one who [a](D)fears Him and [b]does what is right is acceptable to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, (E)preaching [c](F)peace through Jesus Christ (He is (G)Lord of all)— 37 you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 [d]You know of (H)Jesus of Nazareth, how God (I)anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, [e](J)and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for (K)God was with Him. 39 We are (L)witnesses of all the things that He did both in the [f]country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on [g](M)a cross. 40 (N)God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He [h]be revealed, 41 (O)not to all the people, but to (P)witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us (Q)who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He (R)ordered us to [i]preach to the people, and to (S)testify solemnly that this is the One who has been (T)appointed by God as (U)Judge of the living and the dead. 43 (V)All the prophets testify of Him, that through (W)His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:35 Or reveres
  2. Acts 10:35 Lit works righteousness
  3. Acts 10:36 Or the gospel of peace
  4. Acts 10:38 Or How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
  5. Acts 10:38 Lit who went
  6. Acts 10:39 Or countryside
  7. Acts 10:39 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
  8. Acts 10:40 Lit become visible
  9. Acts 10:42 Or proclaim

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism(A) 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.(B) 36 You know the message(C) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news(D) of peace(E) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.(F) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed(G) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing(H) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.(I)

39 “We are witnesses(J) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,(K) 40 but God raised him from the dead(L) on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people,(M) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate(N) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people(O) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.(P) 43 All the prophets testify about him(Q) that everyone(R) who believes(S) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(T)

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