Acts 10:9-16

Acts 10:9-16

[9] On the morrow,  as they  went on their journey,  and  drew nigh  unto the city,  Peter  went up  upon  the housetop  to pray  about  the sixth  hour:  [10] And  he became  very hungry,  and  would  have eaten:  but  made ready,  he  into  a trance,  [11] And  saw  heaven  opened,  and  a certain  vessel  descending  unto  as  it had been a great  sheet  at the four  corners,  and  let down  to  the earth:  [12] Wherein  were  all manner  of fourfooted beasts  of the earth,  and  creeping things,  and  fowls  of the air.  [13] And  there came  a voice  to  him,  Rise,  Peter;  kill,  and  eat.  [14] But  Peter  said,  Not so,  Lord;  for  never  eaten  any thing  that is common  unclean.  [15] And  the voice  spake unto  him  again  the second time,  What  God  hath cleansed,  not  thou  common.  [16] was done  thrice:  and  the vessel  was received up  into  heaven. 

What does Acts 10:9-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"Though Peter was not by training or inclination an overly scrupulous Jew, and though as a Christian his inherited prejudices were gradually wearing thin, he was not prepared to go so far as to minister directly to Gentiles. A special revelation was necessary for that, and Luke now tells how God took the initiative in overcoming Peter"s reluctance." [1]
The original Greek, Roman, and Jewish readers of Acts all put much stock in dreams, visions, and oracles. They believed they came from the gods, or the true God in the case of Jews. So it is not surprising that Luke put much emphasis on these events in his conversion stories of Saul and Cornelius. This would have put the divine sanction for Christianity beyond dispute in the readers" minds. [2]