God Without Partiality Acts 10:34-48

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, ‘Whoever is for the LORD, come to me” (Exod. 32, 26, NASB)!

The most widely used words in the last several weeks are coronavirus, COVID-19, and pandemic. We know that COVID-19 is the name designated for a particular virus in the coronavirus class that endangers the lives of people more than most of the known viruses. What about this word “pandemic”? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary a pandemic is a disease “occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.” The evidence suggests to us that the COVID-19 coronavirus shows no partiality. In this article we reflect on the words of the apostle Peter that he writes to a people that he and other Jews have long believed that God had excluded from His family. Today, there remain people that believe that God excludes some people from His family and these people are more likely to have reasons to exclude people than they are likely to seek the salvation of those outside the family.

So, let us begin by taking a snap shot of how the COVID-19 coronavirus affects people. First, this coronavirus is not limited to a particular geographical location. It is a pandemic. Second, the virus does not seek to kill any one group of people over against another group. While there are populations more vulnerable than others, the virus itself is not on a mission to seek certain groups of people to kill. It is simply a medical fact that people with certain underlying diseases are a more susceptible host than other people. The virus is much like Satan in the book of Job. “The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” “From roaming about on earth and walking around on it” (Job 1:7, NASB). We might say that Satan is a pandemic evil one seeking anyone anywhere; regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, skin color, gender, religion, political association, and economic status.

The science and health experts give us means by which we can prevent the spread of the coronavirus. We are to practice social distancing, wear mask, wash hands with soap and water frequently, use disinfectants, wear gloves, changing them after each use, disinfect surfaces, testing, and isolation/quarantine. Likewise, Peter warns us that the devil is on the prowl, and he shows no partiality. He gives ways to prevent the effects of the devil (1 Pet. 5-11). Particularly, Peter says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (v. 8, NASB). Thus we can see that the coronavirus and Satan, the devil, shows no partiality. Let us return to our scripture passage that shows us that God shows no partiality.

Acts 10 gives us an account of a centurion having a vision of an angel telling him to send men to Joppa to find one called Peter (Acts 10:1-8). On the next day Peter goes on the housetop to pray (v. 9). Peter gets hungry and he has a vision of a sheet with animals that Jews are forbidden to eat come down from heaven. “A voice came to him, ‘Get up Peter, kill and eat’” (v. 13, NASB). Peter protests. “But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.’ Again a voice came to him a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy’” (vv. 14-15, NASB). The men from the centurion’s house arrive and after telling Peter their story Peter follows the instructions of the Lord, and he goes with them to the centurion’s house.

Peter and his company arrive at the house of Cornelius. Cornelius calls his friends and relatives to his house to meet with Peter. Peter and Cornelius exchange their stories of how God had spoken to them. They are meeting together because they have been commanded by the Lord. Now that they have exchanged their stories Cornelius says to Peter: “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord” (v. 33, NASB). There are two points made here. First, there are people not yet in the church waiting to hear what the Lord says. Secondly, God commands His messengers to speak to people regardless of their station and status in the world.

Peter begins by stating that he now understands that God shows no partiality. “In every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (v. 35). Peter recounts the life and works of Jesus when He walked the earth. In His ministry, Jesus includes all people. Jesus lays His hands on the untouchables e.g. those with leprosy. He talks to foreign women e.g. the woman at the well in Samaria (Jn. 4). No one that asks Jesus for mercy is rejected. Paul writes to the church in Ephesus and says to the Gentile members in the congregation: “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barriers of the dividing wall” (Eph. 2:13-14, NASB).

God shows no partiality. Jesus died on the cross so that all people can be saved. All people are the same. All people are sinners until they are saved by believing in Jesus Christ; that they are accepting His sacrifice on the cross, and they are agreeing to make Jesus their Savior and Lord. It is not the job of Christians to condemn other people. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (Jn. 2:17-18, NASB). We do not need to fear them. We are to live for Jesus. In so doing we give witness to the name Jesus. Jesus welcomes all people. He shows no partiality.