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Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
Acts 10:34 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;
  • KJV Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
  • NKJV Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
  • NASB Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,
  • NLT Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Peter declares that he now truly understands God shows no favoritism. The gospel is not bounded by ethnicity or nation.

Overview

Peter grasps a foundational truth of Scripture: God does not play favorites among peoples (Deuteronomy 10:17; Romans 2:11). The distinction between Jew and Gentile in access to God is being set aside in Christ. This impartiality grounds the worldwide mission and the equal standing of all believers before God.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 18

  • Rom 2:11For God does not show favoritism.
  • 2 Chr 19:7And 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.”
  • Deut 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.
  • Col 3:25Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
  • Job 34:19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
  • 1 Pet 1:17Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.
  • Eph 6:9And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
  • Luke 20:21“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
  • Jas 2:9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
  • Gal 2:6But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
  • Col 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
  • Jas 2:4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
  • Eph 6:19–20Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
  • Ps 82:1–2A Psalm of Asaph. God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods:
  • Deut 16:19Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
  • Matt 22:16They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
  • Matt 5:2and He began to teach them, saying:
  • Acts 8:35Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 10:34YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 10:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.