The physician Luke wrote how, “Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean”, and in chapter ten and verse fifteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the voice spoke unto him again the second time” where we read:
And the voice spoke unto him again the second time,
What God has cleansed, that call not you common.
The verse begins, “And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, ...” Luke began with the words, “and the voice spoke unto him again” which means “and the sound and tone of uttered words uttered, declared and proclaimed to Peter further” “the second time” or “the second of two times” the following words. Luke shared how “the voice” which spoke to “Peter” another time and said the following.
The verse continues, “... What God has cleansed, that call not you common.” Luke added the words, “what God has cleansed” which means “that which the Heavenly Father God has made clean, purged and purified” “that call not you common” or “do not render it defiled, profane or polluted”. Luke shared how the “voice” told “Peter” not to render something “God” has “cleaned and purified” to be “defiled and polluted”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “the Lord” spoke to “Peter” another time and instructed him not to “call” anything He “purged and purified” as “defiled and polluted”. God made all things, and He is able to “clean” anything he desires. God, through the voice, will continue instruct “Peter” in the next verses, but let us realize God's intention was to reach more people with His “saving gospel”, and anyone who surrenders to His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Those who carefully examine the words spoken to “Peter” will understand the Lord's full intention was to have Peter's trust in Him and not in any tradition or religious practice in which he previously trusted and followed.
Next time Luke shares how, “this was done three times”, 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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