Archive of comments and discussions questions and answers from allcreatures. He appears and disappears in the same bible chapter, acts 10. By reporting peters declaration that being commanded to eat unclean foods helped peter see that people should not be declared unclean acts 10. Acts 10 net peter visits cornelius now there was bible. The importance of the book of acts liberty university. He told peter, what god has made clean, do not call common. In the latter portion of acts, luke recorded three rejections of the jews to pauls overtures of salvation.
Scholars speculate that luke the author of the book of acts was using an aramaic source aramaic is a semitic language used by jewish people in new testament times. Lukes reference to peters hunger, which god evidently gave him, explains partially why god couched his vision in terms of food. The significance of the speeches for interpreting acts. David guzik commentary on acts 10, where god speaks to peter in a vision of a. It is a vision to let peter know that he and other jewishchristians were permitted to enter the homes of the gentiles to bring them the good news of jesus christ.
The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. In our next lesson, we will consider the impact of peters visit on cornelius and on those gentiles gathered with him, as well as upon the jews. Acts 10 niv cornelius calls for peter at caesarea bible gateway. While he speaks the holy ghost descends on cornelius and his company. To tell a jew that god had directed those animals to be reckoned clean which were hitherto deemed unclean, was in effect saying, that the law of moses was done away. The book focuses primarily on the acts of two apostles, peter and paul. And peter preaches unto him jesus, as the savior of the world, and the judge of quick and dead, acts 10. Was god telling peter that its now okay to eat unclean animals. The purpose of peters vision is clear in this context. This was god, in the person of the holy spirit, speaking to peter. This vision would begin to break down the separation that existed between believing jews and godfearing gentiles. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. The commentary on acts in the oxford bible commentary. As the book of acts makes clear, christians are not obligated to follow this holiness code.
Now, in acts 10, through a series of experiences, cornelius, a gentile who prays to god and gives alms a form of repentance among jews, sees a vision that will answer his prayers. To this day, its a vision that is commonly misunderstood and generally misinterpreted. Before examining the specifics of peters vision, lets note the context surrounding it. The new international commentary on the new testament commentary on the book of the acts, grand rapids, wm. In his commentary on the book of acts, professor of scripture dr. The angel tells cornelius that the purpose of peters visit is to proclaim a message by which uncircumcised gentiles may enter into salvation 11. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. In looking closer at peters experience, another interesting facet of the story catches our attention.
Peter, recall, is still puzzling over the meaning of his vision, so it is not odd to follow. To go to corneliuss house and stay there, peter must leave behind the scriptural commands of god that require separation of foods and persons into the categories of. Any interpretation of their significance is objective and revealed, for it comes. Taken from anno domini popular tv series from the 80s. The acts of the apostles is a unique and therefore crucial book of the new testament. Though peter does not yet fully comprehend the purpose of this vision. Christians are not concerned with eating kosher foods and avoiding all others. In terms of the number of verses in the text of the bible, this is the longest recorded case of conversion in the book of acts it goes from acts 10. Bible q what is the meaning of peters vision in acts 10. Yes, a gentile, cornelius was a devout religious man acts 10. Peters protest at the command to kill and eat indicates that at least some unclean animals are present.
Timeline of the book of acts from the bible generation word. The last time we left peter was in the gospel of luke. It had been promised for a while that all nations would be saved through the coming of jesus, but this promise is not made good until peters encounter with cornelius in acts 10, which initiates the mission to the gentiles jipp 11. Acts 10 peters vision and unclean animals david wilber. It is significant that god spoke to cornelius directly, even calling him by name. Chapter ten in the book of acts gives us some insight into gods purpose in spreading. Up to this point, the gospel had been somewhat limited in its outreach. Peter, cornelius, and cultural boundaries religious. The visions purposeproving a new freedom in association. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. He is criticized for dining with them, but in reality, he is living out his calling. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as. One of the amazing things about the bible is how much truth can be stored in such small places. Lets look in the book of acts at the development of the church as it began to shift from a body of exclusively jewish believers to a body that included nonjews as well as jews.
Acts chapter 10 is about peter and his interaction with cornelius. Peter is told, what god has made clean, do not call common. Peters dream happened about ad40ad41 or 7 to 8 years after the start of the book of acts. Other than samaritans who were half jewish, it had gone only to the jews 2.
What is the significance of peters vision of the unclean animals. In acts 10, god gave peter a vision of a sheet descending from the heavens. He saw at a time, it seems, when engaged in secret devotion. Peter is puzzled about the meaning of the vision, with its strange mixture of living things, and the. Peter, cornelius, and cultural boundaries religious studies. Jesus is lord over all things death, the devil, and all the forces that defy god. We here enter on an entirely new phase of the christian church, the opening of the door of faith to the gentiles. Peter commands them to be baptized in the name of the lord, acts 10. Indications of peters understanding of the events significance are not entirely lacking. In other words, there is no kosher code for christians. Acts 10 new english translation net bible peter visits cornelius. The blue letter bible ministry and the blb institute hold to the historical, conservative christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of scripture.
For hundreds of years christians have interpreted peter s vision as god s permission to kill and eat any animal, which it is not. The book of acts is the account of the working of a sovereign god through his spirit, by means of men, and in spite of them, to accomplish that of which men would never have conceived and in ways. The spirit reveals to peter that the men are there. Luke recorded three rejections by the jews to peter and the apostles associated with him to the message of repentance and proclamation of the kingdom. The significance of acts as a historical account of christian origins cannot be overestimated. Discusses both the introduction to this chapter as well as cornilius vision and its ramificaitions. Later, in acts 4, the saints in jerusalem understand their persecution in the light of the old testament scriptures. Dec 27, 2016 in acts 10, god gave peter a vision of a sheet descending from the heavens. This spirit is the holy spirit of god because it is capitalized. I believe the lesson god teaches peter in acts 10 and 11 is one of the most prominent and one of the most crucial theological truths in the book of acts. This is surely the easiest genre to interpret, and the reason i believe a simple, literal reading of the textin its historical and literary contextis sufficient to interpret it correctly. Just outside the bounds of our first reading, peters message is interrupted by an unexpected guest. For hundreds of years christians have interpreted peters vision as gods permission to kill and eat any animal, which it is not. Siesta started after lunch and ended about 1500 hours 3 pm after the heat of the day.
This is, in effect, an outline of the book of acts see plan and outline below. Peters vision what did it mean and why was it repeated. Peter receives a vision that is puzzling precisely because it requires him to ignore scripture itself, as well as the longheld tradition of his people concerning clean and unclean things see, for example, leviticus 20. Cornelius in the bible was a centurion, a commander in the italian regiment of the roman military.
Jan 02, 2020 the emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. He probably went up on the flat housetop for privacy and the fresh sea air. Why didnt jesus show himself to everybody after he resurrected. It alone presents an extensive picture of early church life and history.
Peters sermon in acts 2 is punctuated with old testament texts, which have been fulfilled in the pentecost experience and in the resurrection and exaltation of jesus christ. Acts 11 commentary peters defense of his gentile mission. There is a passage in acts 10 that illustrates this point. Literary elements the genre of acts is historical narrative. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. Acts 10 peter and salvation of the gentiles reading acts. This scene shows some events as described in the biblebook acts 10. The title as we know it comes from the second century and only partially discloses the theme of the document. Acts 10 peters vision and unclean animals freedom hill.
His story in acts 10 is important because it was in corneliuss household that god publicly opened the doors of the church to the gentile world. Luke was not jewish, and it appears that he translated rather literally from an aramaic source. It was not common in the book of acts or in subsequent christian experience for those who were not. The message in chapter ten is the historical record of how a gospel preacher, peter, got together with cornelius and others who were with him.
The author tells us that he was a godfearing man who, although not a jew and not circumcised, practiced some jewish traditions along with his household. This time the message is proclaimed to the household of cornelius of caesarea a gentile indeed, but a gentile who worships the god of israel and practices several of the. Acts 10 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. The purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. The angel answered, your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before god. One further sample of apostolic preaching is assigned to peter acts 10. Then, peters plight of spreading the good news is found in the book of acts, and he wrote two letters to new christians which were adopted into the bible.
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