Acts 10:28 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Peter names the custom that kept a Jew from close company with other nations, then declares what God has shown him: call no person common or unclean.
What Does Acts 10:28 Mean?
Peter names the barrier aloud: custom held it forbidden for a Jew to keep close company with one of another nation. Then he gives the rooftop vision its true interpretation — the sheet was never finally about food. God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
God's verdict over every human being is that none is to be written off as defiled beyond his reach. The walls between peoples come down in Christ, who is our peace (Ephesians 2:14). Whoever God is willing to receive, we are not at liberty to despise.
Acts 10:28 in the Original Language
athemitos (ἀθέμιτος), 'unlawful' -- contrary to accepted custom; the barrier Peter names was hallowed tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 10:28
What does Acts 10:28 mean?
Peter names the custom that kept a Jew from close company with other nations, then declares what God has shown him: call no person common or unclean.