Is it possible that Peter's Vision also served as a purpose to get Peter to realize that he and the Jewish believers no longer need to follow the Jewish customs regarding what is and is not considered clean. He even stated that he had continued, to that day, following the customs of Moses since Christ had Ascended into Heaven. And how long has that been? Two months? Three? Four at the most? So, it seems reasonable that this Vision serves a dual purpose: To help Peter understand that the New Covenant no longer includes the works of the Old Covenant and that he can now eat whatever is presented to him, regardless of the home he enters and delivers the Holy Gospel. And second, of course, to help him understand that associating with Gentiles is, and always has been, perfectly acceptable.
What do you people think? Does "Kill and eat" somehow apply to the Gentiles, or could this set of passages also be helping to shape the actual Gospel within his mind?
Acts 11:5-10 NLT - "I was in the town of Joppa," he said, "and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of tame and wild animals, reptiles, and birds. And I heard a voice say, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.' "'No, Lord,' I replied. 'I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.' "But the voice from heaven spoke again: 'Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.' This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven."
What do you people think? Does "Kill and eat" somehow apply to the Gentiles, or could this set of passages also be helping to shape the actual Gospel within his mind?
Acts 11:5-10 NLT - "I was in the town of Joppa," he said, "and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of tame and wild animals, reptiles, and birds. And I heard a voice say, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.' "'No, Lord,' I replied. 'I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.' "But the voice from heaven spoke again: 'Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.' This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven."
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