The physician Luke wrote how “the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, you went in to men uncircumcised, and did eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat”, and in chapter eleven and verse eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told the Jewish believers, “I said, not so, Lord” where we read:
But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
The verse begins, “But I said, Not so, Lord:” Luke began with the words, “but I said” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover I, Peter, uttered, declared, proclaimed and answered”, “Not so, Lord” or “no and not in any way, Lord which refers to the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”. Luke shared how “Peter” relayed to the Jewish “apostles and believers” how he said, “no way” as he identified the “voice” as the “Lord”.
The verse goes on to say, “for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth.” Luke continued with the words, “for nothing common” which means “because, since and on account that not one thing ordinary, general or unhallowed” “or unclean” or “nor not cleansed, ceremonially and morally lewd and foul” “has at any time” which means “has ever and neither at any time” “entered into my mouth” or “come into my, Peter's, physical orifice in his face used for eating and speaking”. Luke shared how “Peter” told the “apostles and believers” that not one thing that was “unhallowed or ceremonially lewd and foul” ever came into his “mouth”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” recounted how he told the “voice” that he would not eat the animals, reptiles and birds because they were “unhallowed and morally lewd”. He shared with the “Lord” how he had never eaten anything like this before. God knew this about “Peter”, and because He desired to share the “gospel” with “all the world”, He would challenge him in an area he had never encountered before. God loves everybody, and He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they yield to Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Let all who read “Peter's” words submit to Jesus who is able to tread outside of the religious practices and traditions of men.
Next time Luke shares how Peter told the Jewish believers, “the voice answered me again from heaven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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