Acts 10:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

NIV: He said to them: 'You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.

NASB: And he said to them, 'You yourselves know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call any person unholy or unclean.

CSB: Peter said to them, "You know it's forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner, but God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean.

NLT: Peter told them, 'You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.

KJV: And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

NKJV: Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Peter's statement is harsh, but it is a matter of Jewish survival. Shortly after entering the Promised Land, right after Joshua died, the Israelites started worshiping the gods of the people God meant for them to displace (Judges 2:1–5). This idolatry continued until the nation split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah—and then it got worse. About 680 years after the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Israel was all but demolished by the Assyrians. About 120 years later, Judah was taken into exile in Babylon. Fortunately, Judah returned, largely intact as a people.

After a few fits and starts, the Jews resolved to serve God alone. God had told them to be a people set apart, noted for their obedience to Him through the Mosaic law. In their zeal, the Jews added to the Law and fought off their foreign oppressors whenever possible. When they couldn't, they made it clear they would not associate with unclean Gentiles. This is why Jesus' accusers remained outside Pilate's house—so they wouldn't get unclean and be ineligible for the Feast of Unleavened Bread (John 18:28), and why the Pharisees scolded the disciples for not washing their hands after leaving the marketplace—who knows where that food had been! (Mark 7:1–5)

It is true that God wanted His people to be apart from the pagan nations and their idol worship, but only for a time, and only so far as it involved those sins. God promised Abraham that all the world would be blessed by his descendants (Genesis 12:2–3), and this can't happen without interaction. Peter begins to understand this now, and he will defend his actions before the church leaders in Jerusalem (Acts 11:1–18). But he will lose sight of it later when the church leaders have opportunity to witness Peter's actions (Galatians 2:11–14).

Acts 10:24–33 describes the onset of the last step of Jesus' command for the disciples: to share His story in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Upon an angel's prompting, a Roman centurion named Cornelius has sent for Peter. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit has been teaching Peter that Gentiles are no longer unclean (Acts 10:1–23). Peter will go to Cornelius and bear witness of Jesus. Everyone in earshot will believe Peter and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:34–48). The way will be open for Paul's ministry in Syria, modern-day Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Italy.

Peter has been a dominant voice in the spread of Jesus' message to Jews and proselytes. Now he brings the gospel to Gentiles. An angel tells Cornelius, a centurion, to ask Peter to come to him. Peter is praying when he receives a vision of food—including non-kosher food—and God's voice telling him to eat. When the centurion's messengers arrive, Peter realizes the dream meant that Gentiles are no longer unclean. He follows the messengers and tells Cornelius' household about salvation through Jesus. Before Peter can lay his hands on them or baptize them, the Holy Spirit falls on them.

Jesus told the disciples they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Oddly, the disciples didn't understand this meant the Holy Spirit would come upon Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike. After several years reaching Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem (Acts 1—7) and Samaritans in Samaria (Acts 8:4–25), God calls Peter to bring the message to Gentiles. Peter's witness that Gentiles can be saved (Acts 11) clears the way for Paul's ministry to Gentiles in modern-day Turkey, Greece, and Italy (Acts 13—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.