The single New Testament use of ἀλλοφύλος (Acts 10:28) stands at the crossroads of a larger biblical conversation about “the other”—people who are ethnically, culturally, or covenantally distinct from Israel. Old Testament terminology such as gēr (“sojourner”), nēkār / nokrî (“foreigner”), and the Septuagint’s ethnikos and allogenēs form the backdrop. Together these words describe those outside the Abrahamic line, whether resident aliens living among Israel or distant nations. Within that stream, ἀλλοφύλος conveys the idea of a person belonging to a different tribe or race and therefore outside the covenant community as then perceived.

Occurrence and Translation

Acts 10:28 records Peter’s admission in the house of Cornelius: “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.” The term “foreigner” renders ἀλλοφύλος; both the context and Peter’s emphasis on ceremonial purity demonstrate that the word carries social and religious weight, not mere geographic difference.

Historical Background in the Biblical Narrative

1. Covenant Distinctions under Mosaic Law

Israel’s covenant identity required a measure of separation from surrounding peoples (Leviticus 20:24–26; Deuteronomy 7:1–6). This separation safeguarded devotion to the LORD amid idolatry (Joshua 23:7, 12–13).
2. Prospective Inclusion Foreshadowed

Even under the Law, foreigners could participate in worship through circumcision and Passover observance (Exodus 12:48–49), pointing beyond ethnic limits. Prophets anticipated a day when “many peoples” would seek the Lord (Isaiah 2:2–4; Zechariah 2:11).
3. Second Temple Boundary Markers

By the first century, oral traditions intensified ethnic and ritual boundaries. Entry barriers to the Temple’s inner courts and strict dining taboos reinforced social distance between Jew and Gentile.

Theological Significance in Acts 10

1. Divine Initiative and Revelation

Peter’s rooftop vision (Acts 10:9–16) redefines purity categories. The thrice-repeated command, “What God has made clean, you must not call impure,” prepares him for Cornelius, the Gentile centurion.
2. Word Fulfilled in Christ

The resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ inaugurate a new covenant in which “the dividing wall of hostility” is torn down (Ephesians 2:14). The one appearance of ἀλλοφύλος marks the precise moment that truth is publicly embraced by an apostle.
3. Apostolic Recognition

Peter’s confession—“God shows no favoritism” (Acts 10:34)—opens the door for Gentile baptism in the Spirit and water. The Jerusalem church later appeals to this event when affirming Gentile inclusion apart from circumcision (Acts 15:7–11).

Implications for Ministry and Mission

1. Gospel Universality

The church’s mission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) depends on the removal of ethnic restrictions symbolized by ἀλλοφύλος.
2. Table Fellowship

Shared meals became a visible testimony of unity in Christ (Galatians 2:11–14). Peter’s lapse at Antioch shows how deeply ingrained the old distinctions were—and how vital it remained to reject the ἀλλοφύλος mentality.
3. Unity of the Body

Paul stresses that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek” (Galatians 3:28). The singular use of the term in Acts 10 does not denote a minor theme; it crystallizes the permanent stance of the church toward every culture.

Related Terms and Themes in Scripture

• Gentiles—Romans 1:16; Romans 11:11–25
• Fellow heirs—Ephesians 3:6
• Strangers and aliens—Ephesians 2:12, 19
• One new man—Ephesians 2:15
• People for His Name—Acts 15:14

These references collectively affirm that those once labeled ἀλλόφυλοι are now invited into covenant fellowship without adopting Jewish identity markers.

Practical Application

1. Evangelistic Priority

Local congregations are called to transcend ethnic comfort zones, pursue cross-cultural outreach, and welcome believers from every background as equal members of Christ’s body.
2. Ecclesial Hospitality

The example of Cornelius’s household encourages churches to open homes and tables, modeling the reconciling power of the gospel.
3. Guarding the Gospel

Believers must resist cultural or doctrinal additions that effectively treat others as ἀλλόφυλοι—foreign to grace—lest they “nullify the truth of the gospel” (Galatians 2:5).

In Scripture’s grand narrative, ἀλλοφύλος moves from marker of exclusion to witness of inclusion, demonstrating that God’s redemptive purpose has always aimed at one redeemed people drawn from every tribe and nation.