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”, and in chapter eleven and verse nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter told the Jewish believers the voice said, “what God has cleansed, that call not you uncommon” where we read:
But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God has cleansed, that call not you common.
The verse begins, “But the voice answered me again from heaven, ...” Luke began with the words, “but the voice answered me again” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the sound and tone of uttered words responded and began to say another time” “from heaven” or “apart from the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. Luke shared how “Peter” told the Jewish “apostles and believers” how the “voice” “spoke to him” another time from the “heavenly region”.
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 purified from wickedness”, “that call not you” or “Peter, do not name, make or render” “common” which means “as unhallowed, defiled and profane”. Luke shared how “Peter” told the “apostles and believers” how the “voice” told him not to “render” something to be “unhallowed” that He “purified”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how “Peter” continued to share his story with the Jewish “apostles and believers” who questioned why he went to the “Gentiles” and “ate” with them. “Peter” said the “voice” repeated his instruction for him to “slay and eat”, and the “voice” told “Peter” not to “call” anything “unclean” that He “made pure”. God had a plan to spread His “gospel” to people who were “pagan Gentiles”, and He used this incidence to motivate “Peter” to act upon His desires. God loves people regardless of their heritage or background, and He wants a personal loving relationship with each of them through His Son Jesus. Let all who read these words see the significance of “Peter” repeating his story as God's commission and passion to “save” every person throughout the world.
Next time Luke shares how Peter told the Jewish believers, “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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