Acts Theology 25: Gentiles by Faith

Peter declares in Acts 10:34, "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." This means that God approves of those in every nation who fear Him and do what is right, demonstrating His acceptance of actions aligned with His will regardless of ethnicity.
This understanding challenges certain theological views that claim an unbeliever can never do anything that pleases God. The account of Cornelius, described as a devout and God-fearing man who gave alms and prayed continually, serves as a direct contradiction to this idea. Cornelius was acceptable to God, not in a salvific sense, but in that his righteous actions pleased God, prompting divine intervention to lead him to the gospel. This episode in Acts functions as an extension of the deep sleep visions experienced by Adam and Abraham, signaling a new covenantal development—the inclusion of Gentiles into the people of God. The term "ecstasis" used for Peter's trance in Acts 10, the same word used in the Septuagint for the "deep sleep" in Genesis 2:21 and 15:12, links Peter's vision to significant covenant events.
This passage reveals that God is not perpetually angry at every action an unbeliever takes. Instead, He recognizes and approves of righteous deeds done in accordance with His moral law, even by those who do not yet have saving faith in Christ. While such actions do not lead to salvation, they reflect a heart that is seeking God, and God responds to such seeking with grace, as shown by His sending Peter to Cornelius. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household before their baptism convinced the Jewish believers present that Gentiles were indeed part of God's plan, akin to what happened at Pentecost. This signifies that Gentiles are included in the covenant as full members, cleansed by faith and the Spirit's witness, not by adherence to ethnic distinctions or becoming Jewish first.
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