Christian Forums

Define "food" as Peter would have understood it.

Maybe like me puzzling over the question of is sushi food or bait?

Quote from: DaveW on Mon Mar 04, 2024 - 12:11:35Define "food" as Peter would have understood it.

Define "eat" as Peter would have understood it. 

Quote from: Jaime on Mon Mar 04, 2024 - 12:52:25Maybe like me puzzling over the question of is sushi food or bait?

Not bait.  The bass aren't having any of that cold rice!

Quote from: Texas Conservative on Mon Mar 04, 2024 - 13:04:23Define "eat" as Peter would have understood it. 

Missed the point.  Stuff like pork and shell fish would not have been considered "food," even though now you may think it is.

Quote from: DaveW on Tue Mar 05, 2024 - 13:48:27Missed the point.  Stuff like pork and shell fish would not have been considered "food," even though now you may think it is.

I didn't miss your point at all.  Your point is invalid and missed what Acts 10 said in Peter's vision.

9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

Quote from: Texas Conservative on Tue Mar 05, 2024 - 18:33:23I didn't miss your point at all.  Your point is invalid and missed what Acts 10 said in Peter's vision.

9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

You forgot -

Act 10:17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Sometimes context is necessary unto proper understanding. Peter himself doubted as to what the vision might mean. Which means he obviously did not think that it meant all foods declared unclean for Israel, were now proclaimed clean by God. To the contrary, logical conclusion according to the greater context of the story, reveals that Peter understood the vision to be in relation to peoples not foods. This is your chosen conclusion, not his, or what the scriptures under examination plainly state.

Quote from: Amo on Fri Mar 08, 2024 - 19:43:29Sometimes context is necessary unto proper understanding. Peter himself doubted as to what the vision might mean. Which means he obviously did not think that it meant all foods declared unclean for Israel, were now proclaimed clean by God. To the contrary, logical conclusion according to the greater context of the story, reveals that Peter understood the vision to be in relation to peoples not foods. This is your chosen conclusion, not his, or what the scriptures under examination plainly state.

Rom 14:14  I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself....

Quote from: 4WD on Sat Mar 09, 2024 - 04:20:53Rom 14:14  I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself....

Again, a little context brings a lot of clarity.

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Quote from: Amo on Sat Mar 09, 2024 - 08:14:05Again, a little context brings a lot of clarity.

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Yes, a little context does bring a lot of clarity.  The context is that within the New Covenant, there is nothing that is unclean in itself; it is only unclean in the mind of the one who thinks it is unclean.  Paul's message is that we must not consider such a person to be evil.

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rom 14:18  Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Quote from: 4WD on Sun Mar 10, 2024 - 06:08:44Yes, a little context does bring a lot of clarity.  The context is that within the New Covenant, there is nothing that is unclean in itself; it is only unclean in the mind of the one who thinks it is unclean.  Paul's message is that we must not consider such a person to be evil.

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rom 14:18  Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

No we cannot judge one to be evil according to what they eat. Accepting such as cannibalism of course, or other meats restricted by NT scripture such as those sacrificed to idols. Yet Paul also said, -

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Peter did also consider that there were still unclean foods, which he refused even when a vision seemed to tell him to eat such. On the other hand, he and other of the apostles determined -

Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day............
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Apart from this the NT does mention unclean spirits many times over.

Yes.  Acts 10.  All Clean. 

Those that forbid foods teach doctrines of demons.  1 Timothy 4:1-5.

Colossians 2:16 also talks about not letting people judge you by what you eat or drink.

Gentiles were not and still are not under the Law concerning food.  The dietary restrictions of Israel per the Law were to set them apart from surrounding nations.  Leviticus 20

Quote from: Amo on Sun Mar 10, 2024 - 13:32:35No we cannot judge one to be evil according to what they eat. Accepting such as cannibalism of course, or other meats restricted by NT scripture such as those sacrificed to idols. Yet Paul also said, -

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Peter did also consider that there were still unclean foods, which he refused even when a vision seemed to tell him to eat such. On the other hand, he and other of the apostles determined -

Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day............
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Apart from this the NT does mention unclean spirits many times over.

Rom 14:14  I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

Quote from: Amo on Fri Mar 08, 2024 - 19:43:29Sometimes context is necessary unto proper understanding. Peter himself doubted as to what the vision might mean. Which means he obviously did not think that it meant all foods declared unclean for Israel, were now proclaimed clean by God. To the contrary, logical conclusion according to the greater context of the story, reveals that Peter understood the vision to be in relation to peoples not foods. This is your chosen conclusion, not his, or what the scriptures under examination plainly state.

Indeed.  I do not believe that Peter himself considered pork or shell fish to even be "food."

Quote from: DaveW on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 06:13:35Indeed.  I do not believe that Peter himself considered pork or shell fish to even be "food."

What do you think Peter thought the pigs in the parable of the prodigal son were used for?

They were not considered food by the Jews BECAUSE OF God's instructions to them. What the rest of the world considered them was irrelevant to the Jews. The pigs were used in the parable to highlight hiw far the orodigal son had fallen. The story wouldn't have had quite the same impact if the prodigal had found himself eating with sheep or cattle.

Quote from: Jaime on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 06:42:42They were not considered food by the Jews BECAUSE OF God's instructions to them. What the rest of the world considered them was irrelevant to the Jews.

Peter was told to "eat."  What do you "eat" Jaime?  Food?

I eat what I consider food. As an example, I don't consider raw fish or oysters as a food item. Not because of a rule though, just because it's gross to ME. Peter didn't consider the unclean animals as food because of generations of his people heeding God's instructions, which was the point of the instructions. The intent of God's instructions were not to impose an unnecessary insurmountable burden, but for a blessing.

Quote from: 4WD on Tue Mar 12, 2024 - 06:25:05What do you think Peter thought the pigs in the parable of the prodigal son were used for?

Total degradation.  Totally detestable circumstances.

Quote from: DaveW on Wed Mar 13, 2024 - 13:01:38Total degradation.  Totally detestable circumstances.

Even though the Lord apparently told him otherwise?

4WD, was the question referring to prior to the vision or afterwards or  both.

Prior to the vision Peter would have considered some of the animals as detestable and not food as Dave W indicated. After the vision Peter said the following in Acts 10:28:

And he said to them, "You yourselves know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call any person unholy or unclean.

We don't know what lesson he learned about food. I would have assumed THAT would have been the focus of his report And he said to them, "You yourselves know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call any person unholy or unclean. had he thought the lesson of the vision was about food, and not an object lesson about the Gentiles, the apparent change in food instructions would have been earth shaking news to him and I would assume he would have shouted it from a mountaintop or at least repeated it to his peers as a paradigm change ithat it would have been, especially since God had never said that the Gentiles were unclean to my knowledge. The Pharisees absolutely did say that in their traditions of men, that Jesus railed against. Hence the voice said in Acts10:15:

And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."

Quote from: Texas Conservative on Wed Feb 28, 2024 - 06:24:28If you understood this truth, you wouldn't be parroting the SDA doctrine of demons about abstaining from foods.

Acts 10

9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."

14 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

1 Timothy 4

4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

And you see it was about accepting ventures and food that had been put before idols, so can't twist and misapply what is given here..

I had understood 1 Timothy 4 likely speaking about Catholic doctrine of abstaining from meat on Friday and of their forbidding priests to marry. I think they have relaxed some of this in recent times.

One more question on this topic: in our small group Bible study this week, someone brought up a question. In Acts 10 it mentions "common" and "unclean". I had never noticed the term common there. In Peter's Vision a cloth descended with EVERY kind of animal on it and then in vs 13 through 15 it says:

13 And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."

Someone said they read that when  clean and unclean animals were penned together bumping into each other the clean animals were considered "contaminated" or "common". This seems to go along with Mark 7 when Jesus was explaining to the Pharisees why his disciples did not wash their hands before they ate. It was not what was on the outside that deviled something (or a person). Hence the voice in Peter's vision makes sense to me when it said let no one call unclean or common what God has MADE (or created clean). Peter would not have picked an unclean animal nor would he have picked a contaminated previously clean animal because it was mingled in with the unclean on the cloth per his understanding. That is why the object lesson Peter learned was about the Gentiles that God made or created clean and Peter realized he could not call them unclean or common. This makes abundant sense to me since Peter never mentioned again anything about God's ancient food instructions being changed.

The word common was always there in Acts 10 in my Bible, but I never considered this explanation. I just didn't believe this was an occasion of rescinding God's food instrucfions. But how Peter took the object lesson in his report to the other Jews, I am more convinced more than ever that this vision did NOt rescind God's food instructions. And Gid's food instructions were meant to bless mankind, not to burden mankind.

I would hope to hear what #DaveW has to say about this issue with the word "common"'in the context of Acts 10 and also Mark7

To quickly summarize, God made two categories of animals: Clean and Unclean. When the two are oenned together and touch each other that contamination makes the clean common or literally contaminated or unholy per the Jewish leaders oerversion of what God intended. What God made or created Holy cannot be made unclean or contaminated by touching the unclean animal. God's lesson to Peter, If God made the Gentiles clean, do not consider them unclean or .common (contaminated)

Quote from: Jaime on Sat Mar 23, 2024 - 22:07:34One more question on this topic: in our small group Bible study this week, someone brought up a question. In Acts 10 it mentions "common" and "unclean". I had never noticed the term common there. In Peter's Vision a cloth descended with EVERY kind of animal on it and then in vs 13 through 15 it says:

13 And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."

Someone said they read that when  clean and unclean animals were penned together bumping into each other the clean animals were considered "contaminated" or "common". This seems to go along with Mark 7 when Jesus was explaining to the Pharisees why his disciples did not wash their hands before they ate. It was not what was on the outside that deviled something (or a person). Hence the voice in Peter's vision makes sense to me when it said let no one call unclean or common what God has MADE (or created clean). Peter would not have picked an unclean animal nor would he have picked a contaminated previously clean animal because it was mingled in with the unclean on the cloth per his understanding. That is why the object lesson Peter learned was about the Gentiles that God made or created clean and Peter realized he could not call them unclean or common. This makes abundant sense to me since Peter never mentioned again anything about God's ancient food instructions being changed.

The word common was always there in Acts 10 in my Bible, but I never considered this explanation. I just didn't believe this was an occasion of rescinding God's food instrucfions. But how Peter took the object lesson in his report to the other Jews, I am more convinced more than ever that this vision did NOt rescind God's food instructions. And Gid's food instructions were meant to bless mankind, not to burden mankind.

I would hope to hear what #DaveW has to say about this issue with the word "common"'in the context of Acts 10 and also Mark7

To quickly summarize, God made two categories of animals: Clean and Unclean. When the two are oenned together and touch each other that contamination makes the clean common or literally contaminated or unholy per the Jewish leaders oerversion of what God intended. What God made or created Holy cannot be made unclean or contaminated by touching the unclean animal. God's lesson to Peter, If God made the Gentiles clean, do not consider them unclean or .common (contaminated)

Interesting. I agree, this more firmly establishes what the vision was really about. Not about what to eat or not, as such was already well established in Peter's mind, being Jewish. 

It's clear to me that the animals on the sheet that descended in the vision was both unclean animals and animals that were created clean, but were considered contaminated or unholy by the Jewish Oral Torah, against the written Torah. The message from God was do not call common or contaminated or unholy what He created (or made) clean. Precisely the scenario of what the Jews had done with the Gentiles. God never considered them unclean or common like the Pharisees mistakenly had. The Pharisee's  Oral Torah or traditions of men was a lot of times at odd's with God's written Torah.

In my Blue Letter Bible App, the following commentary says it better than I can:

QuoteFrom David Guzik:
i. In Old Testament thinking, there was the holy and the common. The holy was made common when it came into contact with something common, and could only be made holy again through a ritual cleansing. When something was made holy it was called consecration; when it was made common it was called desecration.

ii. At this point, Peter believed that God spoke only about food. But shortly, God showed Peter that He was really getting at another point.

It's clear to me and in the text that the object lesson of the physical (that all food is now clean) pointed to a larger spiritual lesson. 

Bacon is good.

The object lesson is that what God created clean, (the Gentiles) should not be called common or contaminated or unholy, depending on the version of the Bible.

What Peter saw in the dream was all out of bounds as food because the clean animals were contaminated or made common to the unclean  animals according to the Pharisees traditions of men in their oral Torah and in contradiction God's written Torah. God was straightening the mess out for Peter for the sake of the Gentiles, not for the sake of new food instructions..

Quote from: Jaime on Sun Mar 31, 2024 - 21:44:05The object lesson is that what God created clean, (the Gentiles) should not be called common or contaminated or unholy, depending on the version of the Bible.

What Peter saw in the dream was all out of bounds as food because the clean animals were contaminated or made common to the unclean  animals according to the Pharisees traditions of men in their oral Torah and in contradiction God's written Torah. God was straightening the mess out for Peter for the sake of the Gentiles, not for the sake of new food instructions..

That the primary message to Peter concerned the plan for inclusion of Gentiles does not mean that the literal message about food wasn't true.

Quote from: 4WD on Mon Apr 01, 2024 - 08:09:34That the primary message to Peter concerned the plan for inclusion of Gentiles does not mean that the literal message about food wasn't true.

Agreed. 

Just like in Luke 5, when Jesus healed the paralytic. 

Jesus said He forgave the sins of the paralytic. 

The healing was a physical demonstration to demonstrate His power. 

Often physical examples point to the greater lesson.

The message about food was literally don't call what God created clean as common or unclean. God never created swine clean. On the table cloth in the dream, the unclean animals were mixing with the ones created clean and Peter and the Pharisees considered such contamination as rendering a clean animal common or contaminateed. Hence Peter's statement and the ensuing object lesson about the Gentiles whom God did NOT create as unclean. God didn't declare anything that was created unclean clean there. He was simply telling Peter to not call anything created clean as common or unclean. Some of those animals on the cloth were undoubtedly created clean and some unclean. Peter's issue was he thought the touching of the clean by the unclean ones would render the clean contaminated, which Jesus adressed in Mark 7 about what is on the outside does not contaminate one as the Pharisee's thought with their hand washing requirements, that Jesus criticized. God's response  to Peter mentions only "do not call what I have created clean COMMON" (or contaminated). God did not reverse any of the unclean animal's status, just clarified to Peter what cannot be called "common" (meaning contaminated)

Quote from: 4WD on Mon Apr 01, 2024 - 08:09:34That the primary message to Peter concerned the plan for inclusion of Gentiles does not mean that the literal message about food wasn't true.

And the message of the dream Joseph interpreted, did not literally mean skinny cows were going to eat fat cows.

If God out of nowhere decided to reverse the ancient food instructions it likely would have come with more fanfare and a much more succint statement. Or at least Peter would have shouted it from the rooftops for several days at least! "We can eat swine!".

Acts 10:10-15
[10]But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;
[11]and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,
[12]and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.
[13]A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"
[14]But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean."
[15]Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."

Jaime, what God has cleaned, you should no longer consider unholy.

He didn't make unclean thing clean then. He explained then"common" thing to him. The commkn thingbis something God created clean and per the Pharisees mistakenly they taught a clean thjng can be contaminated and be commkn withnthenunclean by toich. god sakd NO to THAT not a blanket making all things clean. He's the one that created both clean and unclean. He said don't call unclean or common what I have created clean. He didn't address the things he created unclean. Some biased translations word it such that it appears he did.

He didn't make unclean things clean then. He explained the "common" thing to Peter. The common thing is something God created clean and per the Pharisees mistakenly they taught a clean thing can be contaminated and be common with the unclean by touch. God said NO to THAT, not a blanket making all things clean. He's the one that created both clean and unclean. He said don't call unclean or common what I have created clean. He didn't address the things he created unclean. Some biased translations word it such that it appears he did. The ESV is what I believe is most accurate.

Acts10:15 ESV
15 And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made (created) clean, do not call common."

God made clean animals from the very beginning. No one had a right to declare his clean animals common because of them touching one another. Exactly the point Jesus was making in Mark 7.

https://biblethingsinbibleways.wordpress.com/2017/08/05/does-peters-vision-prove-we-can-eat-anything-the-difference-between-common-unclean/

Jaime, are your suggesting that the food restrictions of the Old Law should still remain in affect?