And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

ACTS 11:12KJV
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Acts 11:12 (KJV)

What does Acts 11:12 mean?

Acts 11:12 records Peter’s explanation for entering the home of Cornelius, a man who was not Jewish. Peter says that God’s Spirit told him to go with Cornelius’s messengers without doubting, and that six fellow believers went with him.

Peter is speaking to believers in Jerusalem who had questioned him about visiting people who were not Jewish. The six companions could help confirm what Peter was about to describe.

The Greek behind Acts 11:12

  • “doubting” — διακρίνω (diakrinō): This word can carry the sense of hesitating or making a distinction. With “nothing,” the KJV presents the Spirit’s instruction as a command to go without hesitation.
  • “brethren” — ἀδελφοί (adelphoi): The word means “brothers” and can also refer to fellow believers. Here Peter uses it for the six men from his community who accompanied him.

Why Acts 11:12 matters

  • Peter presents his visit as a response to the Spirit’s direction, rather than as a decision he made on his own. That matters because the question raised in Jerusalem concerned his contact with people who were not Jewish.
  • The six companions connect Peter’s account to other witnesses. Acts 10:45 describes believers who came with Peter and saw what happened at Cornelius’s house.
  • “The man’s house” refers to Cornelius’s home. The visit matters in the wider account because Peter explains what happened there while he was speaking to the people gathered.

Where else these words appear

“six” Greek G1803 · used in 12 verses

  • Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
  • Luke 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
  • Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

“doubting” Greek G1252 · used in 18 verses

  • Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
  • Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
  • 1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

“with” Greek G4905 · used in 32 verses

  • Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
  • Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
  • Acts 21:22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

“me” Greek G1698 · used in 87 verses

  • Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
  • John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
  • 2 Corinthians 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.