PETER AND CORNELIUS AND THE WORD ἀλλοφύλῳ

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By Joe Daniels.

“Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation (ἀλλοφύλῳ). But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:28

ἀλλόφυλος Strong's G246 is made up of the words ἄλλος (Meaning “other” or “another”) and the word φυλή (Meaning “tribe”, “race”, or “clan”). It is only used this one time in the entire New Testament, here in Acts 10:28. I want to show in this article how this word proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the gospel is open to all mankind by Peter's specific use of this word. Again it is only used this one time in the entire New Testament.

In Acts chapter ten we have a gentile named Cornelius a centurion of the Roman Cohort who meets Peter, and falls down to worship him. Does that sound like something a Jew or Israelite would do to a mere man? No! He was a man who feared God, (verse 2) and was acquainted with the preaching of Jesus. (verses 36 & 37) It does however sound like something a pagan would do, and we have other instances in the bible where it has been done by pagans/gentiles. (Acts 14:12-15) Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many friends and relatives of Cornelius who had come together. Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Why did Peter say this? Because Cornelius is what would be called “of another nation” hence the Greek word αλλόφυλοι is used of a non-Jewish or person of Israel. This word to Jews means “the foreigners” Peter then goes on to explain that he has been shown (per his vision from God) that no man of another nation should be called unclean! That needs to sink in for the IO cult.

Notice that Peter went on to say … 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

In every NATION (ἔθνος) whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by Him! Why? Because as Peter stated in the verse before, in verse thirty four, “God shows no partiality”! Or as the Greek really states using the Greek word προσωπολήπτης meaning, “not a respecter of persons”! This is because in the new covenant it is not about race, or specific tribes, but any of any of all of mankind who will receive Jesus through faith are given the right to become children of God! (Jn. 1:12) It is not about blood line as the Jews thought through their fleshly mindset, and world view. (Jn.1:13)

12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Jn. 1:12-13

Here from the very start Peter used a very specific Greek word under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to make it abundantly clear that pagans / gentiles were to be included into the salvation of the Jews and Israelites as he even states that had come to the ears of Cornelius … 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know ...

So Peter proclaims that the word of God sent to the children of Israel spoke of Jesus as being – Lord of all! Not just of Israel, but of all! This was the mystery that the gentiles (The nations. Lit. τὰ ἔθνη) would become fellow heirs of the promise made to Israel. (Eph. 3:6) As we have pointed out extensively, the gathering together of all Israel was not a mystery at all, but very much anticipated! Literally the Greek reads as:

Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ οὗτός ἐστιν

Jesus Christ this (one) is

πάντων κύριος

of all Lord

So now, how do I know for sure that this word ἀλλόφυλος in Acts 10:28 was used in such a way as to prove that outsiders of Israel were to be saved? Because of it's usage in the Septuagint! (The LXX) It is used many times in reference to one of the greatest enemies Israel ever faced the Philistines! There is a Greek word for the Philistines such as used in the LXX it is the word Φυλιστιείμ as can be seen such passages as in Gen. 21:32; Gen. 26:14; Ex. 15:14; Joshua 13:2 & 5; 1 Chronicles 1:12.

Yet many times instead of the word for Philistines which as I have just stated is the Greek word Φυλιστιείμ, the word ἀλλόφυλος is used! I came across and read an article by an Israel Only advocate who tried to make the point that Acts 10:28 should be rendered as: “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit another [one] of the same tribe…” He states this because of the two words that I have already explained that make up this word are, ἄλλος meaning “other” or “another” and φυλή meaning “tribe”, “race”, or “clan” stating that since the word tribe, or tribes are always used in reference to the twelve tribes of Israel, Peter was really meaning that Cornelius was of the same tribe he came from, namely Judah! No or he would have specifically said τῆς φυλῆς Ιουδα. (of the tribe of Judah) First of all, let me just state that NO ONE has ever translated Acts 10:28 that way! Why?

Because it doesn't mean that at all! The IO cult wants it to mean that to prove their point, but it's just not correct. Of course if you want to include the Philistines as being from the tribe of Judah, be my guest! But I suggest that you save yourself from the ridicule that would follow from making such an absurd assertion!

As we all know, including the Israel Only Cult, the Philistines were certainly not of any blood line of the Jews, or Israel's northern or southern tribes! They were as goyish as they come! Here are some examples found in the LXX that you may be interested in looking at:

“After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine (αλλοφύλων) garrison is. And it will happen …”1 Sam. 10:5

In 1 Samuel 13:3 it is translated as the word Philistines twice! “And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines (αλλοφύλων) that was in Geba, and the Philistines (αλλόφυλοι) heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 1 Sam. 13:3

In 1 Sam, 17:8, 10, 36, 43, 44, & 48 ἀλλόφυλος is used of the Philistines!

In 1 Chron. 10:1 it is translated two times as Philistines, and again one time in verse two!

“Now the Philistines (αλλόφυλοι) fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines (αλλοφύλων), and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 Then the Philistines (αλλόφυλοι) followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.”

Also see 1 Chronicles 10:7, 8, & 11 where the word αλλόφυλοι is used, or Zech. 9:6 where αλλοφύλων is used.

As you can see for yourself, these prove that when Peter used this word speaking of Cornelius, his family, and his friends, he was not dealing with members of the lost tribes of Israel, but people who were so outside Israel, that the term “Philistine” could be meant by the term! He was absolutely not in his wildest imagination thinking that he was speaking to a fellow tribesman from the house or tribe of Judah!

Now wait, it even gets better …

In Isaiah 61:5 a chapter on salvation where Jesus quotes verses 1-2. Then even James in Acts 15:16-17 quotes Isa. 61:4 notice what Isa. 61:5 has to say about who will feed the flocks, be the plowmen, and vinedressers of Israel?

“Strangers (αλλογενείς G241 a word akin to ἀλλόφυλος) shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner (αλλόφυλοι) Philistines (The exact same word Peter used in Acts 10:28)

Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.” Isa. 61:5

The word strangers or foreigners here in Isa. 61:5 is the Greek word ἀλλογενεῖς G241 and it is very much akin to ἀλλόφυλος Strong's G246. So much so that the word that Peter used in Acts chapter 10:28 is used again in the same verse! In other words, make no mistake about it, in the day of salvation total foreigners not of Israel or Jewish stock will be included in the promise of salvation! Even this word αλλογενείς G241 is only used one time in the New Testament in Lk.17:18 and it is used of a Samaritan as we read in verse 16 of that same chapter. ἀλλογενεῖς like ἀλλόφυλος is used multiple times in the LXX. It means “stranger” as in sprung from another tribe, or race. Scriptures where it is used can be seen in Gen. 17:27; Ex. 12:43; Lev. 22:10 where we see that it speaks of non Jews or Israelites. So in this one verse of Isa. 61:5 we have two words that speak of non Jews obtaining the mercy and promise of salvation! Furthermore, we have this same word used in Isa. 60:10 αλλογενείς where God said that foreigners would rebuild the walls.

In verse 7c. These strangers/ gentiles will have everlasting joy, and in verse 8b. God will make (the) covenant with them! (Lit. καὶ διαθήκην αἰώνιον διαθήσομαι αὐτοῖς – and covenant eternal I appoint to them.)

In conclusion we see that in Acts chapter ten Peter is shown a vision to accept all men! (About the year A.D. 38) But as we know, Peter was a bit thick headed and about sixteen years later he still had a hard time accepting gentiles. The mystery that was hidden for ages (Col. 1:26) was revealed to him, but it was so unbelievable, he at times had a hard time accepting it! The apostle Paul in Gal. 2:11-21 scolds Peter publicly for his hypocrisy for not eating with the gentiles in the church in Galatia around when some from the circumcision visited the church about the year A.D. 54 or 55. It's because these gentiles were about as akin to Israel as the Philistines would have been! Zero blood, and so in the mind of the Jew, zero tolerance! Peter was shown the mystery, and yet it was so great and mind boggling to him that at times, he struggled with accepting it! This would not be the case if they were scattered Israelites that now have been found, gathered back into the fold, and receiving the promise of salvation! That was not the mystery, but longed for and prophesied all throughout the old covenant! Peter would have welcomed these fellow heirs, but those outside of Israel … well that at times presented problems for Peter. For this reason many believe that although Peter was given the keys to the kingdom, (Matt. 16:18-19) Paul became the apostle to the gentiles. So was Cornelius a Jew from the tribe of Judah? No! Was he of the lost northern tribes that were scattered? No! Peter used a word that is only used one time in the entire new testament to emphasize that Cornelius was absolutely not of any of the tribes of Israel. His lineage was like one of the Philistines – of another race – ἀλλόφυλος a gentile. Yet the beauty of this story is that he obtained the promise of salvation! So the question of Israel Only is answered by Peter. Not Israel only, but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him! Salvation is of the Jews, but not only for the Jews! (Jn. 422)