Acts 11:7
And I heard a voyce, saying vnto me, Arise Peter, slay, and eate. Acts 11:7 (KJV)
And I heard a voice saying unto me,
Arise, Peter; slay and eat. Acts 11:7 (KJV)
In Acts 11:1‑18 the apostle Peter recounts a pivotal vision that reshaped the early church’s understanding of God’s plan of salvation. While in Joppa, Peter received a divine revelation: a large sheet descended from heaven, filled with all kinds of animals—both those deemed clean and those considered unclean under Mosaic law. The voice that spoke to him commanded, “Arise, Peter; slay and eat.”
Peter’s immediate reaction was one of hesitation. He protested that he had never eaten anything unclean. The voice answered, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common,” repeating the instruction three times to emphasize its importance. This exchange highlighted the breaking of the dietary and cultural barriers that had long separated Jews from Gentiles.
Soon after the vision, three men from Caesarea arrived, sent by the centurion Cornelius, who himself had experienced a divine vision and was eager to hear the gospel. Prompted by the Spirit, Peter accompanied the men to Cornelius’ house—a bold step, since Jews typically avoided social interaction with Gentiles. There he found a large gathering of Gentiles awaiting his message.
Peter proclaimed that God had shown him that no person should be called common or unclean. As he preached, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles just as it had on the Jewish believers at Pentecost. This outpouring confirmed that salvation was not limited to the Jewish people but was now extended to all nations.
The command in Acts 11:7, therefore, symbols the removal of the old divisions between clean and unclean, Jew and Gentile. It underscores the inclusive nature of God’s redemptive plan: the gospel is intended for every person, regardless of ethnic background or previous religious affiliation. Peter’s vision served as a decisive turning point, teaching the early church that the message of Jesus Christ is universal and that salvation is available to all who believe.
