And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Spirit commanded Peter to go with the Gentiles, and what's often missed is that Peter didn't just "go"—he went "making no distinction." This wasn't just about not doubting, but actively embracing these Gentiles without imposing any of his Jewish customs or prerequisites on them.
And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is recounting his recent experience with Cornelius to the believers in Jerusalem, who are questioning why he associated with and ate with Gentiles. He explains that the Holy Spirit directly instructed him to go with the Gentile men who sought him out and to go with them without hesitation, and that six Jewish believers from Joppa accompanied him to witness the event.
Why did Peter emphasize that the Spirit told him to go, and that he went 'making no distinction'?
The Holy Spirit's leading isn't always a booming voice or a dramatic event. Sometimes, it's a clear, quiet instruction to move. In Acts 11:12, Peter highlights that the Spirit didn't just tell him to go, but to go 'making no distinction'. This phrase can be translated as 'doubting nothing' or 'making no difference'.
Going Beyond Doubt
Peter had just experienced a radical shift with Cornelius. The vision and the outpouring of the Spirit on Gentiles were undeniable, yet the religious climate in Jerusalem was steeped in tradition. The Spirit's command was direct: obey, and do so without hesitation or internal debate.
Breaking Down Barriers
The 'making no distinction' also speaks to the Spirit's work in dismantling ethnic and religious barriers. It wasn't just about Peter's personal conviction; it was about the Spirit establishing a new reality where Jewish and Gentile believers were united. Peter’s obedience was a crucial step in God’s plan to bring all people into His kingdom.
Why did Peter bring six other men with him to Jerusalem and into Cornelius's house?
Peter wasn't just being obedient; he was being wise and strategic. He brought six witnesses from Joppa to Jerusalem, and they entered Cornelius's house with him. These men served as crucial corroborators of the extraordinary events that had unfolded.
Presenting the Evidence
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In the context of Acts 11, Peter is about to face scrutiny from the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. They questioned his association with Gentiles. By having these six brothers present, Peter had immediate testimony to confirm his account. They could attest that he had been led by the Spirit and that God had poured out His Spirit on the Gentiles just as He had on the Jewish believers.
Building Unity Through Testimony
This wasn't about Peter defending himself; it was about establishing the truth of God's expanding work. The presence of these witnesses helped to validate the inclusion of Gentiles, paving the way for greater understanding and unity within the early church. It shows how communal testimony strengthens faith and confirms God's actions in the world.
Understand the original words
Pneuma · Greek Noun
The third person of the Trinity, who indwells, guides, empowers, and sanctifies believers. In the New Testament, He is the active agent in applying the work of redemption and manifesting God's presence among His people.
c. AD 30s
Cornelius's Vision and Peter's Vision
Cornelius, a Roman centurion in Caesarea, receives a vision to send for Peter. Simultaneously, Peter in Joppa receives a vision of a sheet with unclean animals, a divine sign that God is breaking down barriers between Jews and Gentiles.
c. AD 30s
Peter Visits Cornelius
Guided by the Holy Spirit, Peter travels to Caesarea and enters the home of Cornelius, a Gentile. The Holy Spirit falls upon Cornelius and his household as Peter preaches, demonstrating God's acceptance of Gentiles.
c. AD 30s— this verse
Peter Returns to Jerusalem
Peter, accompanied by six Jewish believers from Joppa, returns to Jerusalem. He is immediately confronted by Jewish believers who question his association with uncircumcised Gentiles.
c. AD 30s
Peter Explains His Actions
Peter recounts his visions and the experience at Cornelius's house, emphasizing the Holy Spirit's direct guidance and the undeniable evidence of God's work among the Gentiles. The six companions testify to these events.
c. AD 30s
The Jerusalem Church Accepts Gentiles
Upon hearing Peter's account and witnessing the evidence of the Spirit's work, the Jerusalem believers cease their objections and glorify God for extending salvation to the Gentiles.
This verse describes the Spirit telling Peter to go with the men sent by Cornelius, indicating a divine prompting to cross cultural and religious boundaries, directly preceding the event in Acts 11.
Acts 15:8-9Peter recounts how God 'made no distinction' between Jews and Gentiles, purifying their hearts by faith, which directly echoes the theological implication of him 'making no distinction' in Acts 11:12 and serves as a defense before the Jerusalem council.
Galatians 2:11-13This passage shows Peter initially acting with the Gentiles but later withdrawing due to fear of those from James, highlighting the tension and debate surrounding association with uncircumcised believers that Peter's actions in Acts 10 and 11 were addressing.
Romans 14:1-3Paul discusses how to receive 'disputable matters' regarding dietary laws and fellowship without judgment, offering a broader perspective on the principle of not making distinctions between believers that Peter was embracing.
pulpitActs 11:12: "And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:"
Verse 12. - Making no distinction for nothing doubting, A.V. and T.R.; and.., also for moreover, A.V. Making no distinction. The reading adopted here in the R.T. is διακρίναντα instead of διακρινόμενον in the T.R. The verb διακρίνειν in the active voice means to "make a distinction" or "difference" between one and another, as in Acts 15:9. But in…
ellicottActs 11:12: "And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:"
(12) The spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. —The Greek verb has a special force as being the same as that for “contended” in Acts 11:2 . Peter, guided by the Spirit, raised no debate such as they were raising.
The Spirit commanded Peter to go with the Gentiles, and what's often missed is that Peter didn't just "go"—he went "making no distinction." This wasn't just about not doubting, but actively embracing these Gentiles without imposing any of his Jewish customs or prerequisites on them.
Peter is recounting his recent experience with Cornelius to the believers in Jerusalem, who are questioning why he associated with and ate with Gentiles. He explains that the Holy Spirit directly instructed him to go with the Gentile men who sought him out and to go with them without hesitation, and that six Jewish believers from Joppa accompanied him to witness the event.
Peter is recounting his recent experience with Cornelius to the believers in Jerusalem, who are questioning why he associated with and ate with Gentiles. He explains that the Holy Spirit directly instructed him to go with the Gentile men who sought him out and to go with them without hesitation, and that six Jewish believers from Joppa accompanied him to witness the event.
"And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house." — The Spirit commanded Peter to go with the Gentiles, and what's often missed is that Peter didn't just "go"—he went "making no distinction." This wasn't just about not doubting, but actively embracing…
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Last reviewed October 2026