Acts 10:10

Acts 10:10 says, And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  Peter became hungry while on the roof, but while the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance.  Peter had come from a Jewish background, where there were many dietary restrictions on what meat could and couldn't be eaten. These restrictions had been set in place by God.  Verse eleven adds, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  In his trance, Peter saw a great vessel like a great sheet knit at the four corners let down from heaven to earth.  Now, many people would likely say that since he was hungry and passed out that he saw this simply because food was on his mind, but we know it was God revealing a truth to him.  Verse twelve continues, Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  Peter saw a vision of a great sheet being let down from heaven that contained all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowl of the air.  We need to remember the dietary restrictions on the Jews as we consider this, as I am sure Peter did.  Verse thirteen states, And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  This would have been against Jewish dietary laws.  We need to be careful that we don’t allow manmade laws set limits on what we can do through the freedom of Christ. Verse fourteen adds, But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  All this occurred while Peter was in prayer, but he still questioned God.  Peter said no, I have never eaten anything common or unclean.  He stood on his own righteousness instead of listening to God.  We must be careful not to let our own goodness or tradition get in the way of what God tells us. Verse fifteen continues, And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  This occurred a second time, and a voice told Peter not to call what God had cleansed common.  We are cleansed through the blood of Christ if we are Christians, and nothing in and of itself can ever cause us not to be.  Verse sixteen concludes, This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.  After three times, the sheet was withdrawn.  I hear a lot today about what we as Christians should or shouldn't eat, especially concerning meat, but we find that God Himself gave people animals for food, and when those of the world try to tell us differently, we need not listen.  This concerned more than just what was called clean to eat by God, but it did also mean what was allowed to be eaten.  Verse seventeen states, 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,  Peter was confused as to what the vision meant.  If we are confused about something God reveals to us, we can be sure He won't leave us in our confusion.  Even as Peter was attempting to understand the vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrived at Simon's house looking for Peter and stood at the gate.  Verse eighteen adds, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.  They called and asked if Simon surnamed Peter lodged there.  God was already at work to answer the questions Peter had.  If we are called on to deliver a message to someone, we need to make sure we have the right person.  Verse nineteen continues, While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  As the men stood at the door, the Spirit revealed that the men were there calling for him.  Even before Peter knew that he was going to have questions, God was already at work answering them, just as He will be with us today if we live by faith in Him.