God’s Message to Peter through a Vision

Acts 10:9–22
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Vision

Before Cornelius could be welcomed into the Church, Peter had to learn a lesson. Strict Jews believed that God had no use for the Gentiles. Sometimes they even said that help must not be given to a Gentile woman in childbirth, because that would only bring another Gentile into the world. The next day after Cornelius’ vision, while the three men were getting near to Joppa, Peter went up on the flat roof of Simon’s house to pray (v. 9). While he waited for the noon meal to be served, he saw the heavens opened and a great sheet let down by four corners. In this sheet were all sorts of ceremonially unclean animals being let down from heaven (vv. 10-12). Suddenly a voice commanded: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat” (v. 13). Facing a choice Peter responded, “No Lord, I have never eaten anything common or unclean” (v. 14). The Lord spoke to him again and said, “Do not call what God has cleansed unclean” (v. 15). The sheet was taken up toward heaven and let down again three times; then it was taken up (v. 16).

Peter had lived as an orthodox Jew all his life. The “clean and unclean foods” belief was a major problem between Jews and Gentiles in that day. God was not just changing Peter’s diet, but his entire program. The Jew was not “clean,” and the Gentile “unclean,” but both Jew and Gentile were “unclean before God.” God’s timing is perfect, and the three men at the door arrived just when Peter was thinking about the meaning of the vision (vv. 17-22). He was used to open the door of faith for the Jews in Acts 2, he was used to open the door of faith to the Samaritans in Acts 8, and now he was used to open the door to the Gentiles in Acts 10. The Gospel of Christ was to include everyone.

Application

God has opened the door of salvation to all, and He has given me a vision to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone I can. How am I going to do that? The only way that I can fulfill this is by praying, giving, and going. There is a chorus that says: “He wants me to pray, to give, and to go, that the whole world may know about Jesus.”

Acts 10:9-22 (English Standard Version)

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