Acts 10 · Verse 28

Acts 10:28

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.
Acts 10:28, King James Version

Acts 10:28 in other translations

BSBHe said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
WEBHe said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.
ASVand 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:
YLTAnd 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;
DARBYAnd 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 me God has shewn to call no man common or unclean.
BBEAnd 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:
WebsterAnd he said to them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come to one of another nation; but God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

What does Acts 10:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 10:25-29

25-29. as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him--a mark of the highest respect. fell down at his feet, and worshipped him--In the East this way of showing respect was customary not only to kings, but to others occupying a superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans it was reserved for the gods. Peter, therefore, declines it as due to no mortal [Grotius]. "Those who claim to have succeeded Peter, have not…

Read the full comment on Acts 10:25-29 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. It is an unlawful thing. This was not explicitly enjoined by Moses, but it seemed to be implied in his institutions, and was at any rate the common understanding of the Jews. The design was to keep them a separate people. To do this, Moses forbade alliances by contract, or marriage, with the surrounding nations, which were idolatrous. See Lev 18:24-30, De 7:3-12; comp. Ezr 9:11,12. This command the Jews perverted; and explained as referring to intercourse of an kinds, even to the exercise of friendly offices and commercial transactions. Comp. Jn 4:9.

Of another nation. Greek, Another tribe. It refers here to all who were not Jews.

God hath shewed me. Comp. Acts 15:8,9. He had showed him by the vision, Acts 10:11,12.

Any man common or unclean. Acts 10:14. That no man was to be regarded as excluded from the opportunity of salvation; or be despised and abhorred. The gospel was to be preached to all; the barrier between Jews and Gentiles to be broken down; and all were to be regarded as capable of being saved.

(e) "unlawful thing" Jn 4:9 (f) "God hath shewed me" Jn 15:8,9, Eph 3:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing, etc. - He addressed the whole company, among whom, it appears, there were persons well acquainted with Jewish customs; probably some of them were Jewish proselytes. But God hath showed me, etc. - He now began to understand the import of the vision which he saw at Joppa. A Gentile is not to be avoided because he is a Gentile; God is now taking down the partition wall which separated them from the Jews.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 10:19-33

When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in…

Read the full comment on Acts 10:19-33 →

Acts 10:28 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἔφηephēHe was sayingG5346
τεtethenG5037
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτούς·autousthem;G846
ὑμεῖςhumeisYou yourselvesG4771
ἐπίστασθεepistastheknowG1987
ὡςhōshowG5613
ἀθέμιτόνathemitonunlawfulG111
ἐστινestinit isG1510
ἀνδρὶandrifor a manG435
ἸουδαίῳIoudaiōJewishG2453
κολλᾶσθαιkollasthaito unite himselfG2853
ἢēorG2228
προσέρχεσθαιproserchesthaito come nearG4334
ἀλλοφύλῳ·allophulōto [someone] foreign;G246
κἀμοὶkamoiAnd to meG1473
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
ἔδειξενedeixenhas shownG1166
μηδέναmēdenanothingG3367
κοινὸνkoinoncommonG2839
ἢēorG2228
ἀκάθαρτονakathartonuncleanG169
λέγεινlegeinto callG3004
ἄνθρωπον,anthrōponman,G444

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 10:28

  • John 4:9

    Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

  • Ephesians 3:6-7

    That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

  • Galatians 2:12-14

    For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

  • John 4:27

    And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

  • John 18:28

    Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

  • Isaiah 65:5

    Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

  • Acts 11:9

    But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

  • Acts 22:21-22

    And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

  • Acts 10:34-35

    Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

  • Acts 11:2-3

    And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

  • Acts 15:8-9

    And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

  • Luke 18:11

    The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that it.
11:2,3; 22:21,22; Joh 4:9,27; 18:28; Ga 2:12-14
but.
15,34; 11:9; 15:8,9; Isa 65:5; Lu 18:11; Eph 3:6,7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 10:27

    And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

  • Acts 10:28

    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.

  • Acts 10:29

    Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

Read all of Acts 10

Acts 10:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y les dijo: Vosotros sabéis que es abominable á un varón Judío juntarse ó llegarse á extranjero; mas me ha mostrado Dios que á ningún hombre llame común ó inmundo;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il leur dit: Vous savez, vous, que c’est une chose illicite pour un Juif que de se lier avec un étranger, ou d’aller à lui; et Dieu m’a montré, à moi, à n’appeler aucun homme impur ou immonde.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und er sprach zu ihnen: Ihr wisset, wie unerlaubt es für einen jüdischen Mann ist, sich einem Fremdling anzuschließen oder zu ihm zu kommen; und mir hat Gott gezeigt, keinen Menschen gemein oder unrein zu heißen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
dixitque ad illos: Vos scitis quomodo abominatum sit viro Judæo conjungi aut accedere ad alienigenam: sed mihi ostendit Deus neminem communem aut immundum dicere hominem.