The Bible scriptures in this study are found in Acts 10 & 11 (KJV below, bold/underline mine for emphasis). We need to look at both of these chapters as a whole, rather than plucking out one verse and construing it out of context, so that we can know what God was not telling Peter, the falsity is this: ALL FOODS ARE CLEAN AND THEREFORE YOU CAN EAT WHAT YOU WANT ... this is NOT what the scripture actually says! Keep in mind that Peter, and all the apostles for that matter, were Jews, and as such they observed all the laws of Moses, including what they ate, etc ... what was clean or unclean. Remember that while we continue in this study.

Meet Cornelius, the one for whom God will reach out to and eventually save (along with his household and other Gentiles as well) using Peter the Apostle. Cornelius is not Jewish, he is a centurion from Caesarea ... Rome ... an Italian. Cornelius is not so much our focus here as Peter, but the stage is being set, read on!

Acts 10:1-2  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band], [A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

As we read, Cornelius was praying continually to God (probably for spiritual guidance as indicated in the verses below). In a vision God sends an angel to Cornelius telling him to send some of his men to Joppa where the Apostle Peter was. They were to bring Peter back to Cornelius so that Peter could witness the word/life of Jesus to him and baptise him (confirmed in Chapter 11).

Acts 10:3-8  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for [one] Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all [these] things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius sends a party of three as we see. Also notice (above) that the stage is set for Peter's entrance on the scene, and (below) Peter's vision from God. This vision is the key point to our study.

Acts 10:9-17  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

Peter is very confused because he thinks the vision is about common or unclean foods (many religions and churches single out the scriptures in the previous paragraph as their supposed proof that mankind can eat any kind of foods). God made a point of repeating Himself THREE TIMES ... notice, it doesn't say that Peter did kill and eat but it does say that he was doubting within himself the meaning of the vision! Now, read on as we see the men Cornelius sent and how they find Peter and tell him of their mission.

Acts 10:18-20  And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Peter is still pondering his own vision as noted above, when his thoughts are interrupted by the Spirit saying to him that three men seek him, and that he should go with them doubting nothing, and confirms that He had sent them to him! Peter STILL doesn't get his own vision! So, Peter does what the Spirit bade him to do and now goes with the men to meet with Cornelius having no idea why he's going there!

Acts 10:21-24  Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what [is] the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged [them]. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

Peter (and other certain brethren) arrives at Cornelius' home.

Acts 10:25-27  And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped [him]. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

Here's the key to Peter's vision, pay attention friends! Remember, Peter still didn't get what his own vision meant as we read above ... so he replies thusly:

Acts 10:28-29  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I [unto you] without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

Other translations say that Peter came without raising any resistance, instead of the word gainsaying. Peter asks why he was sent for, knowing that God wants him to be there but still not knowing WHY. Cornelius explains the vision he had, don't mix this up with Peter's vision ... this is Cornelius' vision restated!

Acts 10:30-33  And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of [one] Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Notice here, Peter now gets the revelation of WHAT his own vision means ... he is to deliver the message of Jesus' life & sacrifice to these Gentiles, and then to baptise them! Notice they get the Holy Spirit! ALL people are NOT to be considered common or unclean as they (Jewish believers) had been accustomed to thinking of Gentiles ... ALL people may recieve Christ, not just Jews! Read on ...

Acts 10:34-48  Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, [I say], ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

        *They of the circumcision* spoken of above were the six (Jewish) brethren that accompanied Peter from Joppa to Cornelius' home ... they witnessed the Holy Spirit decend on the Gentiles that Peter was speaking to and, rightfully so, were astonished as they had thought only Jews were privy to redemption!

Now if you are really, really keyed into this, then you will want to continue reading on in Acts 11:1-18 where Peter later gets flack from the other Apostles for baptising non-Jews! Peter explains to them his own vision, and then the vision he'd been told by Cornelius. Here's that scripture ... it's fascinating and reaffirms what I conclude with below:

Acts 11:1-4  And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed [the matter] from the beginning, and expounded [it] by order unto them, saying,

*Of the circumcision* again, means the Jewish believers, this time though it's the fellow Jewish brethren in Jerusalem (not the six that were witnesses to it all). Peter now recounts his own vision to his fellow believing (circumsized) Jewish brethren. He now explains to them further ... remember, Peter is a Jew and he has always followed the laws of Moses as to what he can eat or not, what is unclean or not ... thus He objects to God's saying to slay and eat what he thinks is unclean, he relates his vision the way he felt it at the time ... in that he did not yet understand that the vision isn't about food!

Acts 11:5-10  I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

Here I can say that it is thought that the *four corners* of the sheet represent the four corners of the world from which God would call people unto Himself! Peter goes on to explain how he came to be called to Cornelius' home and that there were six brethren (Jews) that accompanied him, and therefore were witnesses to the whole thing, for the trip to Joppa ...

Acts 11:11-12  And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

Now, Peter recounts Cornelius' vision as told to him ... oh, and now you see WHY Peter was sent for!

Acts 11:13-14  And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

Finally Peter tells his fellow Jews/believers that they were witness to the Holy Ghost falling on these Gentiles of Joppa, Cornelius' household, friends and family that were there in attendance to hear Peter's words ... and how he (Peter) remembered what the Lord said to him regarding baptism by water and the Holy Ghost and finishes his speech by saying ... if God so wills it who am I to stand in His way!?

Acts 11:15-17  And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as [he did] unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

And it ends with all of the Jewish brethren in agreement ... God has granted repentence unto life for the Gentiles! Do you see this is NOT about clean or unclean food but about the *go ahead* from God to accept Gentiles into God's fold, as fellow heirs to the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ! Do you see this for yourselves friends? Read your Bible ... Acts 10 & 11 ... it's in there!

Acts 11:18  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

        Here we have the first recorded baptism of Gentiles. More importantly what I wanted you to notice was that Peter's vision of the food coming down from heaven, being lowered on a sheet by it's four corners, was not God saying that mankind can now eat any or all of the unclean foods they so pleased ... that is NOT what the vision meant. The vision meant that God accepted into His kingdom what Jews of the time thought of as unclean people (Gentiles, non-Jews) ... if you weren't a Jew you were considered *unclean* as Peter stated above. "Because that on the Gentiles ALSO was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost" ... that is the truth of this vision. I hope you see the light!

        I personally believe to this day we should not be eating animals that have been listed as unclean. Not because not eating such things will make us clean or holy somehow ... no, that is not what I'm saying! We are dirty to the core, and only by the love & grace of God, through Jesus Christ, can we be saved, not by our own actions. My point is simply that God deemed certain animals unclean for our own sake. ALL animals listed as unclean are critters that will eat ANYTHING, they are the garbarators of the sea and land ... they are God's recycling crew. The problem with unclean animals is simple, they cannot quickly eliminate the poisons & toxins they take in from rotting substances they ingest and therefore pass that on to those that in turn eat them ... simple!

        Did you know that God's original intent for mankind's AND animals' food is specified in Genesis 1:29-30, "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for meat: and it was so." As we see, God made this decree AFTER He created animals and then mankind. We will get back to being vegetarians as stated in Revelation 22:2, if fruit is the food of the future, and was in the beginning ... it still is today ... God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, forever and ever ... amen!

        In case you zoomed in on that word meat above, you have heard it said that the *flesh of fruits* is often referred to as the meat of the fruit and this is the intent here, not flesh as in animal or human but of the juicy substance parts of fruits and other greens/vegetables. There had not been any animal sacrifices as yet, no animals were killed for food in the beginning, all life was in harmony with God the Creator. The first offerings to God (bloodless at that, nothing is said about sacrifice here) are mentioned after Adam & Eve are cast out of Eden and after they've had at least two sons (Cain & Abel), the first recorded offerings (not sacrifices) are by Cain & Abel in Genesis 4.

        So, back to my point on what you *should and should NOT eat* ... think of it this way, God is God, He knows what He's doing, He knows what He's talking about ... let's not insult His intelligence and design by presuming that those unclean animals are now somehow mysteriously clean ... they are not. If you see with your spiritual eyes, and you want to know which animals are unclean, please refer to Leviticus 11, there you will get the full list and how to distinguish which animals are clean and which are unclean! Do some research of your own, discover what the purpose of unclean animals are ... remember, if you eat them you eat what they've eaten!

        Eat at your own risk!

Back to Deb's Diary Homepage!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

© Deb (Sandberg) Murtagh 2006
ALL Rights Reserved!