Act 10:28 | NETfull | STEP | He said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile, yet God has shown me that I should call no person defiled or ritually unclean.

Acts 10:28

28 He said to them, “You know that ^{▼▼ Here ὡς (hōs) is used like ὅτι (hoti) to introduce indirect discourse (cf. BDAG 1105 s.v. ὡς 5).} it is unlawful ^{▼▼ This term is used of wanton or callously lawless acts (BDAG 24 s.v. ἀθέμιτος).} for a Jew ^{▼▼ Grk “a Jewish man” (ἀνδρὶ ᾿Ιουδαίῳ, andri Ioudaiō).} to associate with or visit a Gentile, ^{▼▼ Grk “a foreigner,” but in this context, “a non-Jew,” that is, a Gentile. This term speaks of intimate association (BDAG 556 s.v. κολλάω 2.b.α). On this Jewish view, see John 18:28, where a visit to a Gentile residence makes a Jewish person unclean.} yet God has shown me that I should call no person ^{▼▼ This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos).} defiled or ritually unclean. ^{▼▼ Possibly there is a subtle distinction in meaning between κοινός (koinos) and ἀκάθαρτος (akaqartos) here, but according to L&N 53.39 it is difficult to determine precise differences in meaning based on existing contexts.} ^{▼▼ God has shown me…unclean. Peter sees the significance of his vision as not about food, but about open fellowship between Jewish Christians and Gentiles.}