11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to
earth by its four corners.
12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as
reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
Many
people point to this passage to support the belief that God has “done
away” with the laws of eating kosher, but as we shall see this event has
nothing to do with changing the kosher laws. Rather, God teaches Peter an
important lesson about his relationship with other people, and how the
influences of the School of Shammai caused an isolationist approach to
Judaism that God had never intended.
Notice
Peter’s response when he was told to eat of these unclean animals.
14
"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or
unclean."
15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that
God has made clean."
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to
heaven.
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the
men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the
gate.
Notice,
that after having this vision, Peter could not figure out it’s meaning. It
was obvious to him that God was NOT changing the kosher laws. If that was
the case, what was God trying to tell him?
Continuing
in verse 21:
21 Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the