Acts 10:34

10:34 Then Peter started speaking: ¹  “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, ² 

Acts 10:44

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on ³  all those who heard the message. ⁴ 

Acts 15:8-9

15:8 And God, who knows the heart, ⁵  has testified ⁶  to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁷  15:9 and he made no distinction ⁸  between them and us, cleansing ⁹  their hearts by faith.

[10:34]  ¹ tn Grk “Opening his mouth Peter said” (a Semitic idiom for beginning to speak in a somewhat formal manner). The participle ἀνοίξας (anoixa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[10:34]  ² 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.

[10:44]  ³ tn Or “came down on.” God now acted to confirm the point of Peter’s speech.

[10:44]  ⁴ tn Or “word.”

[15:8]  ⁵ sn The expression who knows the heart means “who knows what people think.”

[15:8]  ⁶ tn Or “has borne witness.”

[15:8]  ⁷ sn By giving them…just as he did to us. The allusion is to the events of Acts 10-11, esp. 10:44-48 and Peter’s remarks in 11:15-18.

[15:9]  ⁸ tn BDAG 231 s.v. διακρίνω 1.b lists this passage under the meaning “to conclude that there is a difference, make a distinction, differentiate.”

[15:9]  ⁹ tn Or “purifying.”