Add parallel Print Page Options

11 (A)He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all the earth’s four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.”(B) 15 The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.”(C) 16 This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into the sky.

17 [a]While Peter was in doubt about the meaning of the vision he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon’s house and arrived at the entrance. 18 They called out inquiring whether Simon, who is called Peter, was staying there. 19 As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said [to him], “There are three men here looking for you.(D) 20 So get up, go downstairs, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 10:17–23 The arrival of the Gentile emissaries with their account of the angelic apparition illuminates Peter’s vision: he is to be prepared to admit Gentiles, who were considered unclean like the animals of his vision, into the Christian community.