The phrase “God is no respecter of persons” comes from Acts 10:34 in the Bible. It means that God does not show favoritism or partiality based on external factors like race, nationality, social status, wealth, gender, etc. Instead, God judges people by their heart and character. He offers salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ, regardless of background. Understanding this profound truth transforms how we view and treat others.
1. The Context of Acts 10:34
To fully grasp what it means that God shows no partiality, we must understand the context of Acts 10. Here, the apostle Peter has an extraordinary vision in which God declares once-forbidden foods clean (Acts 10:9-16). Puzzled, Peter soon realizes this vision symbolizes God opening salvation to the Gentiles. Previously, most Jewish Christians believed the gospel was for Jews only.
While Peter is still thinking through the meaning of the vision, messengers arrive saying a Roman centurion named Cornelius requested Peter’s visit (Acts 10:17-23). Cornelius, likely a Gentile “God-fearer” drawn to Judaism, had a vision telling him to seek out Peter. So Peter agrees to visit this non-Jew’s home, violating cultural taboos but obeying God (Acts 10:23-29).
At Cornelius’ house, Peter shares the gospel with the gathered crowd, saying:
Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34-35)
Previously, Peter may have assumed salvation was just for the Jews. But his vision, the Spirit’s urging, and the rapt attention of Cornelius’ Gentile household showed otherwise. God was indeed opening salvation to all peoples, regardless of ethnicity.
2. Definition of Key Terms
Partiality
The Greek word translated “partiality” in Acts 10:34 is prosōpolēmpsia. It means the perception of a person based on external appearance, status, race, wealth, etc. Rather than looking at the heart.
Respecter of persons
Some translations phrase Acts 10:34 as “God is no respecter of persons.” The word respecter means one who judges or treats others based on rank, social class, or other external traits versus inner character.
Favoritism
Favoritism is synonymous with partiality and respect of persons. It means treating some people as inherently better than others because of external factors like race, background, etc.
3. God Judges People by the Heart Not Outward Appearance
The core truth of Acts 10:34 is that God sees past outward appearance and judges the heart. Unlike us, God never gives preferential treatment based on any humanly defined social or ethnic categories:
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
Several biblical episodes illustrate God opposing partiality:
- When the prophet Samuel was seeking a new king, God rejected Eliab despite his impressive stature, reminding Samuel that God looks at the heart, not external traits like height (1 Samuel 16:6-7).
- In the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14), Jesus condemned the religious elitism of the boastful Pharisee while commending the humble tax collector.
- The apostle James rebuked early Christians for giving preferential seating to the wealthy while marginalizing the poor (James 2:1-13).
These and other passages make it clear God opposes partiality in all its forms. He doesn’t classify anyone as intrinsically superior or inferior because of outside factors.
4. God Offers Salvation to All Who Believe in Christ
One staggering implication of God’s impartiality is that He opens salvation to people of all nations, races, classes, genders, and backgrounds. The apostle Paul expands on this:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
Every person who puts faith in Christ receives reconciliation with God. As Peter proclaimed:
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43)
God offers mercy freely to all through Christ (Titus 3:4-7). No one has greater value or easier access to salvation based on ethnicity, gender, or other external traits. God is completely impartial in forgiving all who believe.
5. Impartiality Transforms Our Approach to Others
Recognizing God’s impartiality deeply impacts how we view and treat others. It reorients us from superficial external differences to shared dignity and value:
- Equal worth – All people, regardless of background, have equal value and human dignity since we’re made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
- Equal access – We should not create artificial barriers restricting people from faith, fellowship, or leadership based on culture, race, gender, etc.
- Equal justice – God calls us to defend the rights of all people, particularly the poor and marginalized (Proverbs 31:9).
While still appreciating cultural diversity, impartially calls us to look past dividing labels to the common values all people share. It motivates us to tear down walls of prejudice and discrimination.
6. God Impartially Judges All People
While extending undeserved grace now, God will one day judge all people with perfect justice. And His judgments will be untainted by any partiality:
He will render to each one according to his works. (Romans 2:6)
Every person’s deeds will be weighed accurately by God’s impartial scales. None will be shown favoritism or held to lower standards in that day. God’s judgments will be perfectly fair (Revelation 19:11).
Recognizing this compels us to appeal to all peoples to repent before that impartial tribunal (Acts 17:31). We beg all to accept God’s impartial offer of grace in Christ before it’s too late (2 Peter 3:9).
7. Examples of God’s Impartiality in Scripture
Many biblical stories illustrate God’s impartial dealings with people of all backgrounds who trust in Him:
- Abraham – The patriarch Abraham was from Ur, an ancient pagan city. Yet God sovereignly called him, making Abraham the father of all who have faith (Genesis 15:6).
- Rahab – Former prostitute Rahab from Jericho became a follower of God. She’s even listed among the people of faith in Hebrews 11.
- Ruth – Moabite widow Ruth abandoned her pagan roots to align with Israel and God. She became King David’s ancestor and is one of four women named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus.
- Nebuchadnezzar – The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar eventually recognized God’s sovereignty, abandoning his idols (Daniel 4:34-37).
God consistently deals impartially with all who humbly come to Him in faith, regardless of background.
8. Jesus Modeled Impartiality in His Ministry
During His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently crossed social boundaries that divided people. He demonstrated God’s impartiality through His teaching and actions:
- Jesus freely associated with social outcasts like tax collectors and prostitutes, treating them with dignity (Luke 15:1-2).
- He ministered to and healed those considered ceremonially unclean like lepers (Luke 17:11-19).
- Jesus taught the Parable of the Good Samaritan, highlighting the righteousness of a hated foreigner over Jewish religious leaders (Luke 10:25-37).
- Although initially reluctant, Jesus healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman, a group historically despised by Jews (Matthew 15:22-28).
- Jesus gave the Great Commission, commanding His followers to share the gospel with all peoples, regardless of cultural barriers (Matthew 28:19).
Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently crossed manmade barriers that fostered prejudice. He demonstrated God’s compassion and offer of salvation to all.
9. We Must Guard Against Favoritism in the Church
While God is impartial, favoritism has at times crept into the church. Acts 6 records a dispute where Hellenistic (Greek) Jewish widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the apostles insisted on impartiality in meeting needs.
James later warned churches against showing favoritism to the rich over the poor (James 2:1-9). Throughout history, ethnic and socioeconomic divides have at times divided congregations. We must vigilantly guard against this by following Jesus’ example of opening wide our arms in impartial grace.
10. Impartiality Shows No Distinction Between Jews and Gentiles
A key theme of Acts and the New Testament letters is the erasing of barriers between Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus. Salvation through Christ abolishes the divisions between God’s historic chosen people, the Jews, and the rest of the nations:
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)
This impartial inclusion of both groups into one body was a radical truth in New Testament times. The reconciliation of diverse peoples in Christ remains a powerful testimony to God’s impartial grace today.
Conclusion
God’s impartial dealings with humankind lie at the heart of the Bible’s message. He offers salvation freely to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. This transforms how we value and relate to others in the church and the world. We’re called to mirror God’s impartial grace, tearing down walls of discrimination and treating others with Christlike dignity.