The next day, while they were on their way and nearing the city, Peter went up to the roof terrace to pray at about noontime. 10 He was hungry and wished to eat, and while they were making preparations he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all the earth’s four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.” 16 This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into the sky. 17 While Peter was in doubt about the meaning of the vision he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon’s house and arrived at the entrance. 18 They called out inquiring whether Simon, who is called Peter, was staying there. 19 As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said [to him], “There are three men here looking for you. 20 So get up, go downstairs, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” 21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your being here?” 22 They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, respected by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in and showed them hospitality. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.
The evangelist shifted to Joppa where Peter also had a vision while he was praying. He was hungry and had a vision of something like a large sheet being lowered from heaven which contained both clean and unclean animals. A voice told Peter to, “Slaughter and eat (v. 13),” to which Peter refused because the Mosaic Law did not allow Jews to eat anything profane or unclean (Lev. 11:1-23). The voice replied to Peter, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane (v. 15; cf. Gen 1:31; 1 Tim 4:4).” This happened three times and then the object disappeared into the sky.
The men sent by Cornelius arrived as Peter was trying to understand the meaning of the Vision. The Spirit told Peter to go to Caesarea with the men to preach to Cornelius’ household because God sent them. Peter gave them lodging for the night and then set off with them the next morning. The question Peter was pondering was whether the vision was about not labeling foods clean and unclean or not labeling humans clean or unclean (Jews and Gentiles).
Almighty God, grant us the grace not to judge or label our brothers and sisters but to act in a way that would inspire others to look upon you with reverence. In your mercy speak to our hearts as you spoke to your prophets that we may tirelessly try to lead others back to you. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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