Does Peter's vision in Acts 10 give us the green light to eat Pork? You may be surprised with the answer!
In Acts, you read about Cornelius. He was a Gentile who was obedient to the Laws of God. He was already making spiritual sacrifices which are done in the new spiritual temple of which Christ is the cornerstone. (Acts 10:4 memorial portion is also seen in Lev 2:9) These sacrifices had him noticed by God. Cornelius had faith and obedience, so all he needed to do in order to accept the new covenant was to hear the message about Christ. God told Cornelius to send for Peter so that Cornelius could hear the message.
Peter didn’t know that these Gentiles were on the way to get him. Just before they arrived, Peter had a vision from God.
“The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." Acts 10:9-14
Peter confirms in this very Scripture that after the resurrection there was no change to dietary laws. He states that he has not been eating unclean meats. God’s statement had shocked Peter.
“And a voice spoke to him again a second time, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.” Acts 10:15 (common meaning unclean)
Peter knew that all of God’s Laws including the dietary Laws were still in effect and so he was confused, which is why he “wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant”. He knew God would never command him to sin (break God’s Law).
Peter didn’t yet understand that the animals represented Gentiles who were considered unclean. Why were Gentiles considered unclean? God had instructed the Israelites not to intermix with Gentiles because they would lead them into sin and Israel would become defiled or unclean.
“And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity. Now therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.” Ezra 9:10-11, see Deut 7:3-4
This separation between the Jews and the Gentiles was closely adhered to by the Jews, and therefore also by Peter.
But, in Peter’s vision what most people miss here is the sheet. Why were all the animals wrapped in a sheet coming down from heaven? It’s not just any sheet, it’s not a wool blanket or a goat hair cloak, it’s a linen sheet. The word is 'othone' which means 'linen'. And what does Scripture say about linen?
“And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:8
Linen is righteousness. Any peoples of the world were now able to be clean before God. Through belief in Christ as the Passover Lamb, anyone’s sin could be covered or atoned for. We could be covered or clothed in the righteousness of God.
Any peoples of the world were now able to be clean before God. God had made a way for His children, so that we could be clothed in the righteousness of God.
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:14 (‘put on’ meaning to clothe oneself)
“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30
Afterwards Peter finally understood the vision and shared its meaning,
“Then he said to them, ‘You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.’” Acts 10:28
Now, the question remains, why did God ask Peter to kill and eat if this wasn’t about food and making unclean animals ok to eat? The answer is that Peter had received the Holy Spirit. That makes him part of the body of Christ. Christ is our High Priest. And just like Aaron’s sons were priests, so Christ’s children by the Holy Spirit are also priests.
“‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Exodus 19:6
“..To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6
Peter now had priestly duties just as Paul did,
“that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:16 (the words ‘minister’ and ‘ministering’ meant specifically priestly duties)
Killing and eating is part of that priestly duty. All people were now being offered as a spiritual sacrifice by suffering in obedience to the Laws of God. The priests in the temple killed the sacrifice, offered it, and then ate it.
“‘Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying ‘This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sin offering shall be killed before YHWH. It is most holy. The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. In a holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of meeting.’” Leviticus 6:25-26
Peter takes this understanding and teaches it to others,
“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1Peter 2:5
This vision showed the Jewish believers how Gentiles could be accepted in the New Covenant just the same as the Jews. Faith which leads to obedience which during testing by fire makes one into a living sacrifice, could be done by anyone.
Peter explained the vision to the Jews, and after hearing it they also understood that the vision was about the Gentiles becoming clean through Christ.
“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life’” Acts 11:18
Repentance means that you submit that God’s Laws are right, and that you are willing to change. This includes dietary Laws!
As much as pork-loving pagan churches claim to be ‘Christians’, they teach that eating unclean meats is allowed now. This event in Acts 10 actually proves that dietary laws are still in effect through Peter’s testimony. Peter, like all apostles and servants of God, are a model for behavior to new believers. He never ate unclean meats because that is a sin. The vision cannot be equated to allowing sin. You cannot wrap a roast ham in a linen sheet and say that it is clean. The unclean animals were representing the different people and the linen sheet is Christ’s righteousness. This was a symbolic vision with the purpose to teach Peter that his racial prejudice was not justified. In fact, it was sinful because by refusing to associate with Gentiles he was keeping his own family (the chosen Gentiles) from entering the New Covenant. Gentiles can become clean, unclean meats cannot. This vision also demonstrates what the new covenant is all about. It’s about faith, obedience, and sacrifice.
[Note: Mark 7:19 where the bible publisher inserted “ (thus He declared all foods clean) ” is a footnote-like insertion that is not found in the original text. This is unfortunately a pagan-influenced twisting of the source text which they planted to spread their belief that disobedience to God’s Laws is now acceptable. This statement is not found in all bibles, compare KJV to NIV. The addition to the text is absolutely shameful. Do not be led astray by those who preach that sin is no longer sin. Any opinions that preach that after the resurrection we no longer have to follow ‘Old Testament’ Laws or ‘Mosaic’ Laws are wrongly separating and nullifying certain Laws so that they can do as they please. This is not and never has been the will of God.]
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