Acts 10:35

but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Peter addresses Cornelius and his Gentile household, declaring that God has removed ethnic barriers to salvation. He speaks at the precise moment of explaining why uncircumcised outsiders are being welcomed into the Christian community.

The words — The Greek phrase ἐν παντὶ ἔθνει (en panti ethnēi) literally translates to "in every nation," while φοβοῦμενος αὐτόν (phoboumenos auton) means "fearing Him." The text states that divine acceptance is tied to reverence and right conduct, before inferring that ethnic identity is irrelevant to God's approval.

The thread — This pattern of impartial acceptance runs through Romans 10:12, which notes the Lord gives richly to all who call on Him, and 1 John 2:29, which links righteous practice to being born of God. It also recalls Acts 10:2, where Cornelius is already characterized as God-fearing and generous.

Why it lands — The verse demands that readers abandon ethnic or cultural exclusivity and measure acceptance by universal standards of reverence and moral action. It requires a practical shift in how communities evaluate who belongs before God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἀλλ᾽all᾽but ἐνenin παντὶpantievery ἔθνειethneination ὁhowhich φοβούμενοςphoboumenosis fearing αὐτὸνautonHim καὶkaiand ἐργαζόμενοςergazomenosworking δικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēnrighteousness δεκτὸςdektosacceptable αὐτῷautōto Him ἐστιν.estinis.

King James Version

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Cross-references

1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
Acts 10:2 He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,
Acts 15:9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
Isaiah 56:3 Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Psalms 85:9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.