Acts 10 · Verse 35

Acts 10:35

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

Acts 10:35, King James Version

Acts 10:35 in other translations

BSB	but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
WEB	but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
ASV	but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.
YLT	but in every nation he who is fearing Him, and is working righteousness, is acceptable to Him;
DARBY	but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
BBE	But in every nation, the man who has fear of him and does righteousness is pleasing to him.
Webster	But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

What does Acts 10:35 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 10:34-35

34-35. Peter opened his mouth--(See on Mt 5:2). Of a truth I perceive--that is, "I have it now demonstrated before mine eyes." that God is no respecter of persons--Not, "I see there is no capricious favoritism with God," for Peter would never imagine such a thing; but (as the next clause shows), "I see that God has respect only to personal character and state in the acceptance of men, national and ecclesiastical…

Read the full comment on Acts 10:34-35 →

Barnes' Notes

Verse 35. But in every nation, etc. This is given as a reason for what Peter had just said, that God was no respecter of persons. The sense is, that he now perceived that the favours of God were not confined to the Jew, but might be extended to all others on the same principle. The remarkable circumstances here, the vision to him, and to Cornelius, and the declaration that the alms of Cornelius were accepted, now convinced Peter that the favours of God were no longer to be confined to the Jewish people, but might be extended to all. This was what the vision was designed to teach; and to communicate this to the apostles was an important step in their work of spreading the gospel.

In every nation. Among all people; Jews or Gentiles. Acceptance with God does not depend on the fact of being descended from Abraham, or of possessing external privileges, but on the state of the heart.

He that feareth him. This is put for piety towards God in general. Acts 9:31. It means, that he that honours God and keeps his law--that is a true worshipper of God, according to the light and privileges which he has--is approved by him, as giving evidence that he is his friend.

And worketh righteousness. Does that which is right and just. This refers to his conduct towards man. He that discharges conscientiously his duty to his fellow-men, and evinces by his conduct that he is a righteous man. These two things comprehend the whole of religion, the sum of all the requirements of God--piety towards God, and justice towards an men; and as Cornelius had showed these, he showed that, though a Gentile, he was actuated by true piety. We may observe here,

(1.) that it is not said that Cornelius was accepted on account of his good works. Those works were simply an evidence of true piety in the heart; a proof that he feared and loved God, and not a meritorious ground of acceptance.

(2.) He improved the light which he had.

(3.) He embraced the Saviour when he was offered to him. This circumstance makes an essential difference between the case of Cornelius, and those who depend on their morality in Christian lands. They do not embrace the Lord Jesus, and they are, therefore, totally unlike the Roman centurion. His example should not be pleaded, therefore, by those who neglect the Saviour, for it furnishes no evidence that they will be accepted, when they are totally unlike him.

(a) "in every nation" Rom 2:13,27, 3:22,29, 10:12,13, Eph 2:13-18 (*) "with" "by"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 35 But in every nation he that feared him, etc. - In every nation he who, according to his light and privileges, fears God, worships him alone, (for this is the true meaning of the word), and worketh righteousness, abstains from all evil, gives to all their due, injures neither the body, soul, nor reputation of his neighbor, is accepted with him. It is not therefore the nation, kindred, profession, mode or form of worship, that the just God regards; but the character, the state of heart, and the moral deportment. For what are professions, etc., in the sight of that God who trieth spirits, and by whom actions are weighed! He looks for the grace he has given, the advantages he has afforded, and the improvement of all these. Let it be observed farther, that no man can be accepted with this just God who does not live up to the advantages of the state in which providence has placed him. Why was Cornelius accepted with God while thousands of his countrymen were passed by? Because he did not receive the grace of God in vain; he watched, fasted, prayed, and gave alms, which they did not. Had he not done so, would he have been accepted? Certainly not; because it would then appear that he had received the grace of God in vain, and had not been a worker together with him. Many irreligious men, in order to get rid of the duties and obligations of Christianity, quote this verse in their own favor, while they reject all the Gospel besides; and roundly assert, as they think on the authority of this text, that they need neither believe in Jesus Christ, attend to his Gospel, nor use his ordinances; for, if they fear God and work righteousness, they shall be infallibly accepted with him. Let such know that if they had been born and still were living in a land where the light of the Gospel had never shone, and were there conscientiously following the glimmering ray of celestial light which God had granted, they might, with some show of reason, speak in this way; but, as they are born and live under the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God, the just Judge, will require that they fear him, and work righteousness, According to the Light afforded by that very Gospel. The sincerity, watching, praying, fastings and alms-giving of Cornelius will not be sufficient for them who, as it may be justly said, live in splendours of Christianity. In such a state, God requires that a man shall love him with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength; and his neighbor as himself. In the face of such a requisition as this, how will the poor heathen virtue of one born in the pale of Christianity appear? And if God requires all this, will not a man need all the grace that has been brought to light by the revelation of Jesus Christ to enable him to do it?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 10:34-43

Acceptance cannot be obtained on any other ground than that of the covenant of mercy, through the atonement of Christ; but wherever true religion is found, God will accept it without regarding names or sects. The fear of God and works of righteousness are the substance of true religion, the effects of special grace. Though these are not the cause of a man's acceptance, yet they show it; and whatever may be wanting…

Read the full comment on Acts 10:34-43 →

Acts 10:35 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.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ἐνeninG1722

παντὶpantieveryG3956

ἔθνειethneinationG1484

ὁhowhichG3588

φοβούμενοςphoboumenosis fearingG5399

αὐτὸνautonHimG846

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐργαζόμενοςergazomenosworkingG2038

δικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēnrighteousnessG1343

δεκτὸςdektosacceptableG1184

αὐτῷautōto HimG846

ἐστιν.estinis.G1510

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

Cross references for Acts 10:35

1 John 2:29
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Acts 10:2
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
Romans 10:12-13
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 15:9
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Isaiah 56:3-8
Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; …
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Psalms 85:9
Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
Hebrews 11:4-6
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

in.
15:9; Isa 56:3-8; Ro 2:13,25-29; 3:22,29,30; 10:12,13; 1Co 12:13
Ga 3:28; Eph 2:13-18; 3:6-8; Php 3:3; Col 1:6,23-27; 3:11
feareth.
2; 9:31; Job 28:28; Ps 19:9; 85:9; 111:10; Pr 1:7; 2:5; 3:7; 16:6
Ec 12:13; 2Co 7:1; Eph 5:21; 1Jo 2:29
is.
Ge 4:5-7; Ho 8:13; Lu 1:28; *marg:
Eph 1:6; Heb 11:4-6

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

Context

Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Acts 10:35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Acts 10:36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Read all of Acts 10

Acts 10:35 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Sino que de cualquiera nación que le teme y obra justicia, se agrada.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	mais qu’en toute nation celui qui le craint et qui pratique la justice, lui est agréable.
German Elberfelder 1871	sondern in jeder Nation, wer ihn fürchtet und Gerechtigkeit wirkt, ist ihm angenehm.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	sed in omni gente qui timet eum, et operatur justitiam, acceptus est illi.