Respecter of persons
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.”
Acts 10:34
The phrase “respecter of persons” means “accepting of the face,” or “partiality.” It also means one who distinguishes between persons on the basis of outward appearances. Peter had seen in Jesus Christ an absence of favoritism or bias to people on the basis of social rank, knowledge, appearance, or wealth. Favoritism is not an attribute of the Lord (Colossians 3:25; Ephesians 6:9).
Peter had to learn this same principle when he called the Jewish Christians to accept those of other races into equal fellowship with themselves. From Cornelius’ vision, Peter learned that God makes Himself known to all people whether they are Jews or Gentiles (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34).
Even Jesus’ enemies testified that He didn’t favor people based on their class, income, education…etc. because they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men” (Matthew 22:16).
The apostle James also taught that Christians who follow Christ should have this same character of being impartial to people (ch. 2:1–9). Likewise, Paul preached that all people stand equal before God when he said, “tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:9-11).
The Lord declares, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature… For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Freedom from partiality is part of God’s character as the righteous Judge (Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
