Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 10:42

"And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God [to be] the Judge of the living and the dead." — Acts 10:42 (ASV)

Peter ends his sermon by stating that the risen Christ has commanded his apostles to preach “to the people” and to testify about his divine appointment as “judge of the living and the dead.” The word “people” probably refers to “the Jewish people.” And until then the early church knew no other mission. But then Peter went on to speak of the OT prophets testifying about this risen Lord and saying that “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” It was this reference to “everyone who believes in him” that seems to have broken through the traditional barrier between Jews and Gentiles (see next comment).