Peter's Vision of the Sheet on the Rooftopby KandD
10:10Acts 10:10
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
At Joppa about midday Peter went up on the housetop to pray while others were making food ready, and while waiting he became very hungry and fell into a trance that opened the vision of heaven. His hunger was not for physical food alone but for the salvation of his Jewish countrymen, with an intense desire to set before them the prophecies of the sufferings and death of Christ. The trance was God's careful work upon his mind to educate him, to overcome the prejudice against Gentiles of all his Jewish training and to convert him to the full truth. In symbols of the sheet of animals with the command to eat and the word that what God has cleansed must not be called common, he was taught that Gentiles must not be regarded as unclean or inferior, for God is no respecter of persons and through Christ's death Gentiles share equally with Jews in salvation as fellow heirs without circumcision or the ceremonial distinction. That vision did not abolish the Ten Commandments nor remove God's prohibition on eating what He had declared unclean, and it opened the way after A.D. 34, when the 490 years allotted to the Jews ended, for the gospel no longer restricted to the chosen people to go to the world beginning with Cornelius and his household as firstfruits.
Setting on the Housetop
In Joppa Peter went up on the housetop about midday, about the sixth hour, to pray on the morrow after Cornelius sent two household servants and a devout soldier toward the city. Those messengers were on their journey and drawing near the city while Peter was prayerfully waiting and while others were making food ready below. Weary and hungry in that waiting, he grew very hungry and would have eaten of the meal being prepared.
The hunger came upon him while food was being prepared and while he prayed, and it formed the setting in which further instruction was to be given. It was ordinary physical hunger for the meal, with the delay before eating opening the way for what followed.
While praying and waiting he fell into a trance that opened the vision of heaven and the vessel of animals let down like a great sheet. While he doubted what the vision meant, the men from Cornelius arrived at the gate, and the Spirit told him three men sought him and he must go with them doubting nothing, with angels directing at every step.
Hunger and Trance Explained
Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray while others were making food ready, and becoming very hungry he fell into a trance as he prayed. His hunger was not for physical food alone while he waited for the meal, but a hunger for the salvation of his Jewish countrymen as he viewed the city and the surrounding country. With it came an intense desire and longing to point out to them from the Scriptures the prophecies relating to the sufferings and death of Christ, that they might accept the truth as it is in Jesus.
The trance was God's careful work on the human mind to educate and train Peter, meeting him on the housetop to give him the truth about God's purpose to the Gentiles and to take away the barrier between Jew and Gentile. It was meant to overcome the prejudice against the Gentiles thoroughly introduced into his mind by all his Jewish training, teaching him not to belittle those who had had no opportunity of hearing the truth. In that transaction more than one man was converted, for Peter himself needed to be converted and was converted to the full truth while he was appointed to become the human instrument in the hands of heavenly agencies, with heaven and earth united in the work. The lesson impressed was the commandment that Jews and Gentiles are by faith to be joined to Jesus Christ, in whom alone devout piety, prayers, and alms are made complete.
Visions and trances of this kind are given to give instruction about what to speak, showing in vision what should be spoken. That instruction is often repeated again and again, as it was for Peter just as God was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles. They are given for the comfort of God's people and to correct one erring from Bible truth and departing from it, as Peter's error was corrected to prepare him for that work. They are not given to establish a new rule of faith, for the Word of God remains the rule of faith and practice by which all will be judged.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
While waiting for food on the housetop Peter fell into a trance in which heaven was opened and a vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners was let down to earth. It contained all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. A voice commanded him to rise, kill and eat, but he refused because he had never eaten anything common or unclean. The answer came that what God has cleansed must not be called common, and this was thrice repeated before the vessel was taken up again. While he doubted what the vision meant, the men sent from Cornelius arrived at the gate, and the Spirit told him three men sought him and he must go with them doubting nothing, with angels directing at every step.
The vision was a lesson given in symbols to take away the barrier between Jew and Gentile and to reveal God's purpose to the Gentiles. It reproved prejudice and taught that Gentiles must not be regarded as unclean, common, or inferior, nor excluded from God's promises. God is no respecter of persons, and in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. Through Christ's death Gentiles share equally with Jews in the blessings, privileges and promises of salvation as fellow heirs and fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. Jew and Gentile alike are precious to God and are by faith to be joined to Jesus Christ, in whom alone devout piety, prayers and alms are made complete, without being required to undergo circumcision or keep the ceremonial distinction, for the gospel brings them repentance and life.
The vision did not abolish the Ten Commandments. It did not remove God's prohibition on eating animals He had declared unclean. The yoke later discussed at the council was the ceremonial law, made void by Christ's crucifixion.
The conversion of Cornelius and his household that followed was the first or first major Gentile conversion. It was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world. From that household and home a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city. That vision, together with the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch under Philip and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household, convinced the apostles and leading brethren at Jerusalem that God had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life, and so prepared the way for Paul to enter upon his mission.
Heaven and Earth Cooperating
The trance on the housetop shows heaven much nearer to earth and more closely connected with it than is supposed, with holy angels and heavenly intelligences constantly communicating with inhabitants of earth. Immortal messengers give instruction to men, guide God's messengers on earth at every step, and serve as powerful helpers to open minds to the gospel and bring salvation. In that train of circumstances God met Peter to educate and train him by the representation of the sheet let down by its four corners with all manner of four-footed beasts and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls, joined with the notice that three men were seeking him, so that Peter learned the lesson and went with them to Cornelius whose household was ready to hear and receive advanced light. The result was the ministration of heavenly angels in the conversion of Cornelius and his company, teaching God's regard for every human being and that each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
The account shows the Lord knows every person by name, just where they live, the spirit they possess, and every act of life. Ministering angels are passing through the churches noting faithfulness in individual duty. God sees men of responsibility and stewardship who have not yet identified themselves with the church and wants them connected with it, though they have sympathies with believers but are held by worldly threads and lack moral courage to take their position, needing special care and more determined effort because of their responsibilities and temptations.
God arranged the exact meeting by telling Cornelius through an angel precisely where Peter was lodging with Simon the tanner by the seaside at Joppa and giving specific directions to send men to call for him who would tell him what he ought to do. Although the angel could have told Cornelius the whole message and preached it himself, he did not do it that way, for that is not God's way. God used human agents and required the light He had imparted to Peter to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, directing Peter to visit Cornelius and bring him spiritual light which Cornelius welcomed rather than insisting on being taught directly by God. He requires His church to connect together, so His people must come into the closest connection with Him and with one another in love and in just, honest, and true dealing and share light with one another.
Cornelius shows that a person may fear God, practice righteousness, pray, give alms, and live in closer accordance with the principles of the Old Testament Scriptures than many Jewish leaders before being fully informed about Bible truth. Because he had received and improved all the light God had given him, his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God, and God worked for him by His own methods through angelic visitation to bring him to belief in His Son. God brings such sincere seekers into connection and personal contact with people who can teach them more of His Word, as by bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius He brought the gospel to those who had been strangers and foreigners to make them fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. God's servants should therefore be ready to work for sincere seekers who long and pray for light from heaven and receive Christ with gladness when He is revealed, for they may be nearer the kingdom than is supposed and are to act a prominent part in God's cause.
Place in Prophecy and History
The sending of Peter to Cornelius, the God-fearing centurion of Caesarea, marks the turning point after A.D. 34 when the seventy weeks, the 490 years especially allotted to the Jews, came to an end. That close of probationary time was sealed by the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution that followed, in which the nation sealed its rejection of the gospel. From that point the message of salvation was no longer restricted to the chosen people but was given to the world. That vision at Joppa, together with the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch under Philip and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household, convinced the apostles and leading brethren at Jerusalem that God had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life. So prepared, the way was opened for Paul to enter upon his mission.
The same kind of work by which Cornelius was led to bring his energetic, faithful life into connection with the disciples of Christ will be done in the last days. Many will then prize the wisdom of God above every earthly advantage and obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. These will be led to great light and will come to the knowledge of the truth. They will seek to set that light of truth before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for the truth, and thus become conscientious lightbearers to the world. Constrained themselves by the love of God, they will constrain others and will improve every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see the beauty of the truth and to give their abilities to advance the work of God.
Call to Present Work
The tenth chapter is instruction to be read and prayed over until understanding is opened to break the power of oppression and tyranny and to dispel ignorance and superstition. That opening of understanding leads to earnest work for souls in the home field, giving the gospel as freely to Jews as to Gentiles with no barriers erected. Unless workers arouse to this home mission duty they will be found wanting in the day of God.
Those trying to live the Christian life must not measure another person by a human standard nor pass judgment on him for not taking part in religious services. Such judgment can discourage a brother and imperil his soul. They must not call common and unclean those for whom God cares who today are not actively engaged in His work but who will in time take up His call and become faithful, reliable workers. Though their voices are not now heard in meetings, in the great day their good example will be recognized and crowns of glory placed upon them. No one can live an unselfish life of honesty and integrity without God's keeping power.
Earnest, devoted, determined efforts should be made for honest seekers and for associations where they are seeking light, that they may be gathered out even from among those opposed to the message. God seeks people in every station of life, including men of responsibility, stewardship, wealth, and influence who have sympathies with believers but are held by worldly threads and lack moral courage to take their position. They need special care and more determined effort because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come with their positions. God intends patient, loving work to gather such honest hearts.
The work to be done may not be personal choice but is to be accepted as God's choice, with the duty that lies nearest done whether pleasing or unpleasing. God has reasons for directing feet to that very place, where someone may need the help that can be given. As Peter was sent to the centurion, men and women and youth today are sent as His representatives to those needing divine help and guidance. In every age God brings honest hearts into connection with those of His people with special knowledge and training best adapted to their individual needs.
God's compassion and tender love for those seeking and praying for light encourages work for souls and prayer meetings to ask Him to open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and to dispel deceptive shadow. No vision like Peter's trance is needed to be sure that Jesus ever lives to make intercession, receiving the penitent at the first utterance and presenting his case to the Father mingled with His own merits and righteousness. Cornelius shows the kind of true, sanctified, and ennobled men taught by God whom He calls for now. He longed and prayed for light from heaven and received Christ with gladness when Christ was revealed to him, in contrast to mere lifelong profession without spiritual discernment that leaves men in perilous condition.
At Joppa about midday Peter went up on the housetop to pray while others were making food ready, and while waiting he became very hungry and fell into a trance that opened the vision of heaven.
His hunger was not for physical food alone but for the salvation of his Jewish countrymen, with an intense desire to set before them the prophecies of the sufferings and death of Christ.
The trance was God's careful work upon his mind to educate him, to overcome the prejudice against Gentiles of all his Jewish training and to convert him to the full truth.
In symbols of the sheet of animals with the command to eat and the word that what God has cleansed must not be called common, he was taught that Gentiles must not be regarded as unclean or inferior, for God is no respecter of persons and through Christ's death Gentiles share equally with Jews in salvation as fellow heirs without circumcision or the ceremonial distinction.
That vision did not abolish the Ten Commandments nor remove God's prohibition on eating what He had declared unclean, and it opened the way after A.D. 34, when the 490 years allotted to the Jews ended, for the gospel no longer restricted to the chosen people to go to the world beginning with Cornelius and his household as firstfruits.
Setting on the Housetop
In Joppa Peter went up on the housetop about midday, about the sixth hour, to pray on the morrow after Cornelius sent two household servants and a devout soldier toward the city. Those messengers were on their journey and drawing near the city while Peter was prayerfully waiting and while others were making food ready below. Weary and hungry in that waiting, he grew very hungry and would have eaten of the meal being prepared.
The hunger came upon him while food was being prepared and while he prayed, and it formed the setting in which further instruction was to be given. It was ordinary physical hunger for the meal, with the delay before eating opening the way for what followed.
While praying and waiting he fell into a trance that opened the vision of heaven and the vessel of animals let down like a great sheet. While he doubted what the vision meant, the men from Cornelius arrived at the gate, and the Spirit told him three men sought him and he must go with them doubting nothing, with angels directing at every step.
Hunger and Trance Explained
Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray while others were making food ready, and becoming very hungry he fell into a trance as he prayed. His hunger was not for physical food alone while he waited for the meal, but a hunger for the salvation of his Jewish countrymen as he viewed the city and the surrounding country. With it came an intense desire and longing to point out to them from the Scriptures the prophecies relating to the sufferings and death of Christ, that they might accept the truth as it is in Jesus.
The trance was God's careful work on the human mind to educate and train Peter, meeting him on the housetop to give him the truth about God's purpose to the Gentiles and to take away the barrier between Jew and Gentile. It was meant to overcome the prejudice against the Gentiles thoroughly introduced into his mind by all his Jewish training, teaching him not to belittle those who had had no opportunity of hearing the truth. In that transaction more than one man was converted, for Peter himself needed to be converted and was converted to the full truth while he was appointed to become the human instrument in the hands of heavenly agencies, with heaven and earth united in the work. The lesson impressed was the commandment that Jews and Gentiles are by faith to be joined to Jesus Christ, in whom alone devout piety, prayers, and alms are made complete.
Visions and trances of this kind are given to give instruction about what to speak, showing in vision what should be spoken. That instruction is often repeated again and again, as it was for Peter just as God was about to send him to preach to the Gentiles. They are given for the comfort of God's people and to correct one erring from Bible truth and departing from it, as Peter's error was corrected to prepare him for that work. They are not given to establish a new rule of faith, for the Word of God remains the rule of faith and practice by which all will be judged.
Gospel Opened to Gentiles
While waiting for food on the housetop Peter fell into a trance in which heaven was opened and a vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners was let down to earth. It contained all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. A voice commanded him to rise, kill and eat, but he refused because he had never eaten anything common or unclean. The answer came that what God has cleansed must not be called common, and this was thrice repeated before the vessel was taken up again. While he doubted what the vision meant, the men sent from Cornelius arrived at the gate, and the Spirit told him three men sought him and he must go with them doubting nothing, with angels directing at every step.
The vision was a lesson given in symbols to take away the barrier between Jew and Gentile and to reveal God's purpose to the Gentiles. It reproved prejudice and taught that Gentiles must not be regarded as unclean, common, or inferior, nor excluded from God's promises. God is no respecter of persons, and in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him. Through Christ's death Gentiles share equally with Jews in the blessings, privileges and promises of salvation as fellow heirs and fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. Jew and Gentile alike are precious to God and are by faith to be joined to Jesus Christ, in whom alone devout piety, prayers and alms are made complete, without being required to undergo circumcision or keep the ceremonial distinction, for the gospel brings them repentance and life.
The vision did not abolish the Ten Commandments. It did not remove God's prohibition on eating animals He had declared unclean. The yoke later discussed at the council was the ceremonial law, made void by Christ's crucifixion.
The conversion of Cornelius and his household that followed was the first or first major Gentile conversion. It was only the firstfruits of a harvest to be gathered from the world. From that household and home a widespread work of grace was carried on in a heathen city. That vision, together with the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch under Philip and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household, convinced the apostles and leading brethren at Jerusalem that God had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life, and so prepared the way for Paul to enter upon his mission.
Heaven and Earth Cooperating
The trance on the housetop shows heaven much nearer to earth and more closely connected with it than is supposed, with holy angels and heavenly intelligences constantly communicating with inhabitants of earth. Immortal messengers give instruction to men, guide God's messengers on earth at every step, and serve as powerful helpers to open minds to the gospel and bring salvation. In that train of circumstances God met Peter to educate and train him by the representation of the sheet let down by its four corners with all manner of four-footed beasts and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls, joined with the notice that three men were seeking him, so that Peter learned the lesson and went with them to Cornelius whose household was ready to hear and receive advanced light. The result was the ministration of heavenly angels in the conversion of Cornelius and his company, teaching God's regard for every human being and that each should treat his fellow man as one of the Lord's instrumentalities for accomplishing His work in the earth.
The account shows the Lord knows every person by name, just where they live, the spirit they possess, and every act of life. Ministering angels are passing through the churches noting faithfulness in individual duty. God sees men of responsibility and stewardship who have not yet identified themselves with the church and wants them connected with it, though they have sympathies with believers but are held by worldly threads and lack moral courage to take their position, needing special care and more determined effort because of their responsibilities and temptations.
God arranged the exact meeting by telling Cornelius through an angel precisely where Peter was lodging with Simon the tanner by the seaside at Joppa and giving specific directions to send men to call for him who would tell him what he ought to do. Although the angel could have told Cornelius the whole message and preached it himself, he did not do it that way, for that is not God's way. God used human agents and required the light He had imparted to Peter to be imparted by Peter to Cornelius and all his family, directing Peter to visit Cornelius and bring him spiritual light which Cornelius welcomed rather than insisting on being taught directly by God. He requires His church to connect together, so His people must come into the closest connection with Him and with one another in love and in just, honest, and true dealing and share light with one another.
Cornelius shows that a person may fear God, practice righteousness, pray, give alms, and live in closer accordance with the principles of the Old Testament Scriptures than many Jewish leaders before being fully informed about Bible truth. Because he had received and improved all the light God had given him, his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God, and God worked for him by His own methods through angelic visitation to bring him to belief in His Son. God brings such sincere seekers into connection and personal contact with people who can teach them more of His Word, as by bringing Peter into connection with Cornelius He brought the gospel to those who had been strangers and foreigners to make them fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. God's servants should therefore be ready to work for sincere seekers who long and pray for light from heaven and receive Christ with gladness when He is revealed, for they may be nearer the kingdom than is supposed and are to act a prominent part in God's cause.
Place in Prophecy and History
The sending of Peter to Cornelius, the God-fearing centurion of Caesarea, marks the turning point after A.D. 34 when the seventy weeks, the 490 years especially allotted to the Jews, came to an end. That close of probationary time was sealed by the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution that followed, in which the nation sealed its rejection of the gospel. From that point the message of salvation was no longer restricted to the chosen people but was given to the world. That vision at Joppa, together with the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch under Philip and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household, convinced the apostles and leading brethren at Jerusalem that God had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life. So prepared, the way was opened for Paul to enter upon his mission.
The same kind of work by which Cornelius was led to bring his energetic, faithful life into connection with the disciples of Christ will be done in the last days. Many will then prize the wisdom of God above every earthly advantage and obey the Word of God as the supreme standard. These will be led to great light and will come to the knowledge of the truth. They will seek to set that light of truth before acquaintances who like themselves are anxious for the truth, and thus become conscientious lightbearers to the world. Constrained themselves by the love of God, they will constrain others and will improve every opportunity to invite and urge others to come and see the beauty of the truth and to give their abilities to advance the work of God.
Call to Present Work
The tenth chapter is instruction to be read and prayed over until understanding is opened to break the power of oppression and tyranny and to dispel ignorance and superstition. That opening of understanding leads to earnest work for souls in the home field, giving the gospel as freely to Jews as to Gentiles with no barriers erected. Unless workers arouse to this home mission duty they will be found wanting in the day of God.
Those trying to live the Christian life must not measure another person by a human standard nor pass judgment on him for not taking part in religious services. Such judgment can discourage a brother and imperil his soul. They must not call common and unclean those for whom God cares who today are not actively engaged in His work but who will in time take up His call and become faithful, reliable workers. Though their voices are not now heard in meetings, in the great day their good example will be recognized and crowns of glory placed upon them. No one can live an unselfish life of honesty and integrity without God's keeping power.
Earnest, devoted, determined efforts should be made for honest seekers and for associations where they are seeking light, that they may be gathered out even from among those opposed to the message. God seeks people in every station of life, including men of responsibility, stewardship, wealth, and influence who have sympathies with believers but are held by worldly threads and lack moral courage to take their position. They need special care and more determined effort because of the responsibilities they bear and the temptations that come with their positions. God intends patient, loving work to gather such honest hearts.
The work to be done may not be personal choice but is to be accepted as God's choice, with the duty that lies nearest done whether pleasing or unpleasing. God has reasons for directing feet to that very place, where someone may need the help that can be given. As Peter was sent to the centurion, men and women and youth today are sent as His representatives to those needing divine help and guidance. In every age God brings honest hearts into connection with those of His people with special knowledge and training best adapted to their individual needs.
God's compassion and tender love for those seeking and praying for light encourages work for souls and prayer meetings to ask Him to open the way for truth to enter strongholds where Satan has set up his throne and to dispel deceptive shadow. No vision like Peter's trance is needed to be sure that Jesus ever lives to make intercession, receiving the penitent at the first utterance and presenting his case to the Father mingled with His own merits and righteousness. Cornelius shows the kind of true, sanctified, and ennobled men taught by God whom He calls for now. He longed and prayed for light from heaven and received Christ with gladness when Christ was revealed to him, in contrast to mere lifelong profession without spiritual discernment that leaves men in perilous condition.