Acts 10:36

Note

In the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion at Caesarea, Peter says he now understands that God shows no favouritism, and begins to sum up the gospel. This verse is his first sentence.

Cornelius was "a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment" (Acts 10:1). Peter, who knew it was against the law for a Jew to associate with a foreigner and had been shown in a vision not to call any man impure or unclean (Acts 10:28), has crossed his threshold. He begins: "I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right" (Acts 10:34–35). From this verse to verse 43 he tells, in brief, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins for all who believe in Him. It is the first sermon Acts records inside a Gentile's home.

The verb is euangelizomai (εὐαγγελίζομαι) in the present middle participle, singular, euangelizomenos. In the grammar it belongs to the subject of "He has sent," that is, to God: it is God who brings the good news, and the news is peace (eirēnēn). The phrase echoes Isaiah's messengers "who proclaim peace" (Isaiah 52:7), where the Septuagint uses this same verb for the one who brings tidings of peace. Paul uses the same words of Christ Himself: "He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near" (Ephesians 2:17). The peace is between God and man, and therefore between Jew and Gentile.

The Greek of this verse is famously rough, and every version tidies it differently. The KJV leaves the break visible, with Peter's exclamation in brackets: "preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)". The BSB smooths it into one sentence and turns the verb into "proclaiming the gospel of peace," which brings out the gospel word. The LSV keeps the bracket and writes "proclaiming good news—peace through Jesus Christ (this One is Lord of all)". "All" (pantōn) could mean all people or all things. In a room where Jewish believers and Gentiles sat together, "Lord of all people" is what the words most plainly say.

Wesley explains the peace as "peace between God and man, whether Jew or Gentile" Wesley, and of the bracketed words he says, "He is Lord of both; yea, Lord of and over all" Wesley. Matthew Henry writes, "Let them know that this Jesus Christ, by whom peace is made between God and man, is Lord of all" Matthew Henry.

Caesarea, where Peter spoke, was named for Augustus, and Herod the Great had dedicated a stately temple to him there, as Wesley notes later in Acts Wesley. The man listening was an officer in the emperor's army. An inscription of Asia had hailed that same Augustus as a saviour who would end war and order peace the Priene inscription. To an officer of that empire Peter announces another peace and another Lord. The peace comes through Jesus Christ, and He is Lord of all.

Cornelius was devout, but a Gentile, outside the covenant. The news Peter brought him was that God Himself had sent word of peace first. Peace with God is not first something people achieve; it is news that God sends first.