What is meant by the story of the sheet with animals in Acts 10:9-16?

Question

Peter tells us what this meant. Please find it in your Bible.

Idaho - man where do you get that ? It says Peter wondered what this vision meant and then it goes on to say " God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."
Peter never mentions food again....... He WONDERED what the vision meant. .....

I asked for you to find the
answer in your Bible, not tell me what you thought.

Answer 1

((What version (Holy Bible) do you use. I would recommend getting different versions or go to: www.bible.com. You can pull up different passages, chapters etc. in different version and compare them for ease of reading and understanding.))

If you continue the passage it goes on to say in verse 28: "He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean."

You may want to read all of Acts 10. It will give you a clearer understanding of Acts 10:9-16.

27 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

Answer 2

In Peter's Vision, he Fell into a trance
The trance must be something like a vision. A vision is where one sees what is happening. Cornelius saw the angel and could hear directions. Peter’s trance obviously included both sight and sound. It happened while he was awake. A dream happens at night. Of course there are different kinds of dreams. The clearest ones like these visions are undoubtedly God-sourced. Many dreams are not clearly from God. Many voices that one may hear are not from God.

A sheet-like object descended
On the sheet that descended from heaven was a big assortment of animals. And there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air (Acts 10:12).
These animals evidently included both clean and unclean animals. A Jew was never to eat an unclean animal. The Old Testament made two categories very distinct. It listed the animals and even how to distinguish them if necessary. Leviticus 11 goes through many of these laws. Note a few unclean ones.

Now every swarming thing that swarms on the earth is detestable, not to be eaten. Whatever crawls on its belling … you shall not eat them, for they are detestable” (Leviticus 11:41-42).
He was told to kill and eat
Peter was told, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat!” The Jews were clearly told not to eat these unclean things. Peter as a good Jew couldn’t accept it.

Peter objected – Happened 3 times
Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eater anything unholy and unclean” (Acts 10:15). Peter was struggling hard within himself. He heard the instruction but couldn’t quite get it.

Repetition means affirmation. God wasn’t joking. He was compelling Peter to change his perspective of the world. We should never think that any of us are too hard to change. Even stiff older Christian leaders can radically change. Keep praying!

Peter was trying to discover the meaning of the vision
He was probably very glad that the sheet was drawn back into heaven! But he knew that this vision had to do with something very important. God was trying to speak to him. He was trying to listen.

Now Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be” (Acts 10:17).
Only a bit later did he finally understand that the clean and unclean animals represent both Jew and non-Jewish people. God has not declared that they can seek and find God through Jesus just like the Jewish people can.

Answer 3

it was to let Peter know that Christianity is open to the Gentiles as well. Peter was very careful about the law of the Old Testament in eating things that are clean or unclean. often when invited to someone's house, they would offer a meal. Peter wouldn't visit the Gentiles b/c he knew that if he was offered a meal, it would be considered "unclean" b/c it was offered by a Gentile, and Gentiles weren't as discreptive as to what they'd eat. it was also uncommon for Jews to associate with Gentiles. so what the dream meant to Peter is that he should bring the gospel to the Gentiles as well as Jews. hope this helps! :-)

Answer 4

Acts 10:28

Answer 5

Verses 34 and 35 give your answer. The vision was such that God was telling him that his plan of salvation was not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well.

Answer 6

God was showing Peter that you no longer had to be a Jew (including Kosher eating) to be one of God's people. Immediately after this vision, he is sent to Corneilius' house -- a Gentile who has accepted Jesus. Peter must conclude that circumcision is no longer necessary. Jesus has redeemed all.

Answer 7

read the chapter and you will see that this is God saying that all the bounty He placed on the earth is free to be used. you may eat of all that he has provided. It also means that you are not to concider one man better than another

Answer 8

it means we dont have to eat kosher foods.