Three Times - Acts 11:10

Luke the physician 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. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God has cleansed, that call not you common”, and in chapter eleven and verse ten of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told the Jewish believers, “this was done three times” where we read:

And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

The verse begins, “And this was done three times:” Luke began with the words, “and this was done” which means “and the letting down of the linen sheet with animals, reptiles and fowls was performed and produced” “three times” or “three different times”. Luke shared how “Peter” relayed to the Jewish “apostles and believers” about the “linen sheet” coming down to him three different times.

The verse goes on to say, “and all were drawn up again into heaven.” Luke continued with the words, “and all” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the animals, reptiles and fowls” “were drawn up again” or “were taken up or extricated” “into heaven” which means “into the region beyond the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. Luke shared how the “linen sheet” filled with the “animals, creeping things and fowls” was drawn back up into “heaven” again.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” recounted to the Jewish “apostles and believers” how the “linen sheet” was extricated back into “heaven” after appearing to him “three times”. As though it were for emphasis, “Peter” repeated the story of his “vision” to meet with the “Gentiles”. God was intentional in His desire to “save” people throughout the world, and everyone, everywhere is invited to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Let all who hear the repeating of “Peter's” story understand God loves them and wants them to submit their lives to His Son Jesus.

Next time Luke shares how Peter told the Jewish believers, “immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was”, 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".