What is the Meaning of Peter’s Vision?
By Kelly McDonald, Jr.
Peter had a vision in Acts chapter 10 which people have claimed means that God declared all animals clean. What does the vision really mean?
Common Argument: People claim that Peter’s vision in Acts chapter 10 means that God declared all animals clean.
Think it Through: God made animals clean and unclean in the beginning (Genesis 7:2). How could a vision change that? The biology of every living creature would have to be changed. God’s Word endures forever (I Peter 1:25). Evolution is also not true. If the common argument is true, then anyone can claim they had a vision from God and edit any part of the Bible at their convenience.
Short Answer: In the first century AD, the Jewish people viewed Gentiles as unclean. In Acts 10:28 and 11:18, we learn that God showed Peter not to call Gentiles unclean. Peter viewed them as unclean even though God did not. God opened up the way to salvation for them. The vision had nothing to do with unclean animals; they still have the same characteristics since the beginning of creation.
Longer Answer: Below, we will look at verses from this chapter and provide a much more detailed explanation.
Acts 10:1-8
“1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 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. 4 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. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 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; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.”
In these initial verses, we learn that a Roman centurion named Cornelius was a God-fearer. This means that He was a Gentile who followed the commandments of God. We know from other verses in the New Testament and Josephus that many Gentiles in the ancient world already followed commandments such as the Sabbath and dietary laws (see Acts 13:13-48, 16:11-15, 17:1-3, 18:1-4 and Against Appion 2.40).
This detail is confirmed in verse 22 when we learn that the Jewish people respected him. “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…”
An angel appeared to him to let him know that his prayers and giving to the poor were being honored by God. The angel told him to send for Peter. Cornelius sent three men to ask him to come visit them. These details are very important.
Acts 10:9-16
“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 (about noon): 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 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: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice (three times): and the vessel was received up again into heaven…” (emphasis mine)
In these verses, we learn about Peter’s vision. Something important to note is that Peter said he had never eaten anything that was impure or unclean (verse 14). Acts chapter 10 happens years after the Lord’s death and resurrection. These verses are confirmation that Jesus never taught His disciples to eat unclean animal meat.
Moreover, the voice in the dream said, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” The vision does not have to do with what God calls unclean. God has already defined clean and unclean in the beginning. The vision has to do with something God has cleansed which Peter views as unclean.
Like many passages in the Bible, we learn the actual meaning from reading the passage in context. The first clue is that Cornelius sent three men to Peter and the vision happened three times. The verses immediately following the vision explain its meaning.
Acts 10:17-22, 27-29
“17 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, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 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? 22 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…”
“…27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28 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. 29 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?…” (Emphasis mine throughout)
In verses 17 and 19, Peter was still thinking about the vision after it happened. Peter did not instantly think that unclean animals were changed. If the vision was easily understandable, he would not have had a hard time discerning the meaning. Remember, Peter viewed something unclean that was clean in God’s eyes.
The full meaning of the vision is finally revealed in verse 28. Peter said that God showed him that he should not call any man impure or unclean.
Why was this an issue?
In Peter’s time, the Jewish people had a tradition that any contact or fellowship with a Gentile made them unclean. The Bible does not have such a rule. It was a man-made rule. God has always allowed Gentiles into covenant with Him (see Rahab and Ruth as examples). Peter labeled all Gentiles as intrinsically unclean. God showed him that he should not call any Gentile unclean because God opened the way of salvation to them.
Like any other vision, there is an interpretation. In it, Heaven opened. This was to show Peter that the event to come was from God. The sheet of unclean animals that came down three times represented the three Gentiles that came to Peter’s door (Acts 10:19). Since Jewish people at that time viewed Gentiles as unclean, they are represented by unclean animals in the vision. God’s command to Peter to kill and eat is representative of God asking Peter to associate with Gentiles. Just as Peter never ate an unclean animal, so Peter never associated with a Gentile.
The meaning of the vision becomes reiterated in Acts 11. In Acts 11:1-18, Peter is questioned by his Jewish brethren about eating with Gentiles. He retells the vision and the events that immediately followed. Peter explained to them how a group of Gentiles received the Holy Spirit just as they had (Acts 11:1-17).
The brethren immediately understand the meaning of Peter’s vision immediately. “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18). Their conclusion was not that they could eat whatever they wanted, but that God had opened the way for Gentiles to receive salvation.
In I Peter 1:15-16, Peter quoted Leviticus 11:44-46 in discussing the importance of holiness. In fact, most references to holiness in the New Testament point us back to living such as the difference between clean and unclean animals. Neither Peter nor any other writer of the New Testament ever contradicted the distinction between clean and unclean animals.
Kelly McDonald, Jr.
Pastor, David’s Tent Christian Fellowship