PETER’S VISION
Acts 10:1-16
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (15)
chapter 10
1. At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
2. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
3. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
4. Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
5. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
7. When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.
8. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
9. About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
10. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
12. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.
13. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14. "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
15. The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
16. This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. To be a centurion in the Italian regiment would usually mean one would be regarded as an enemy and oppressor of Israel. However, Cornelius was devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. God heard Cornelius' prayer and sent an angel to tell him to find Peter who was in nearby Joppa and staying with Simon the Tanner. God wanted Cornelius to meet a believer who could lead him to Jesus. Cornelius was obedient to God. He also had a trusting relationship with his two servants and a devout soldier, who went to find Peter.
2. While Cornelius' men were approaching, Peter was on the roof praying. God gave him a vision of all the traditionally unclean animals for a Jew not to eat. Yet a voice from heaven commanded him to get up, kill, and eat. This horrified Peter, who was so conditioned to think of these creatures as unclean. Yet God insisted. He wanted to challenge Peter'sdeep, culturally conditioned prejudice, which was a barrier for bringing the gospel to the Gentiles.
Prayer: Father, forgive my prejudices. Please help me to change my mind set to be like yours and see people with your vision.
One Word: What God has made clean