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Epiphany Season · Baptism of the Lord · Year A

Acts 10:34-43

Peter's Sermon to Cornelius

January 11, 2026

St Peter and Cornelius the Centurion, Bernardo Cavallino
St Peter and Cornelius the Centurion, Bernardo Cavallino, 1640sGalleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, Rome
Peter arrives at the house of the Roman centurion Cornelius, who has gathered his relatives and soldiers; the crowd presses in at the doorway to hear him.Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality … how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.”Bernardo CavallinoA Neapolitan painter of small, intimate, dramatic biblical scenes, who died young in the plague of 1656.Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, RomeThe Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica in Rome.Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, Rome
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 3:13-17Mt 3:13-17
EpistleActs 10:34-43
Old TestamentIsa. 42:1-9Is 42:1-9
PsalterPs. 29Ps 29

Overview & Insights

"I truly understand that God shows no partiality." (Acts 10:34)

Peter preaches to a Gentile household for the first time, summarizing the whole story of Jesus from John's baptism through the resurrection. The scene marks the moment the early church recognizes that the good news reaches beyond Israel to every nation.

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Take it further: Acts 10:34-43

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 10:34-43 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary's lectionary commentary walks through the structure of Peter's speech.

Acts 10:34-43 Commentary CEP

A preaching-focused Reformed read on Peter's declaration that God shows no partiality.

Acts 10 Commentary Enduring Word

David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes cover the full Cornelius episode around this speech.

Acts 10 Commentary Precept Austin

A compiled verse-by-verse resource with cross-references on the Gentile mission.

Acts 10 - Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible StudyLight

Albert Barnes' notes on the chapter that opens the mission to the Gentiles.

Acts 10:34 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates several classic commentaries on the opening line of Peter's speech.

Background & Word Study

Acts 10:34 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text and parsing for Peter's opening line about God's impartiality.

Acts 10 - Catena Bible Catena

Patristic commentary from the early church fathers on the Cornelius narrative.

Adopted as God's Children The Episcopal Church

An Anglican preaching voice on the Baptism of the Lord Sunday this reading belongs to.

The Church Fathers

Acts 10 Catena

Verse-by-verse comment from the Fathers on Acts 10.

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