Acts 10:28
What does Acts 10:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 10:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 10:28 means
Peter addressed the assembled Gentiles, acknowledging their awareness of the strict Jewish custom forbidding association with people of other nations, which considered them "common or unclean." He then announced the profound shift in his understanding, stating that God had shown him not to call any person common or unclean. This statement directly applied his vision to human relationships, signaling God's dismantling of ethnic and social barriers to salvation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he said to them, You yourselves have knowledge that it is against the law for a man who is a Jew to be in the company of one who is of another nation; but God has made it clear to me that no man may be named common or unclean:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he said unto them, `Ye know how it is unlawful for a man, a Jew, to keep company with, or to come unto, one of another race, but to me God did shew to call no man common or unclean;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he said to them: you know how abominable it is for a man that is a Jew to keep company or to come unto one of another nation: but God hath shewed to me, to call no man common or unclean.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he said to them, Ye know how it is unlawful for a Jew to be joined or come to one of a strange race, and to meGod has shewn to call no man common or unclean.
Context
Having entered the Gentile gathering, Peter immediately addresses the cultural barrier, explaining the Jewish custom of separation. This direct acknowledgment of the historical-cultural context clarifies why his presence is so significant. His subsequent declaration, revealed in his vision, of God having cleansed all people, directly justifies his presence and foreshadows the universal message of the Gospel he is about to preach.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 10:34
And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
- Acts 11:2
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
- Ephesians 3:6
to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
- Acts 11:9
But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
- Acts 15:8
And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;
- Luke 18:11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
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