Jesus Café Ministries - Scripture Squad - Gentiles & Jews, and Clean or Unclean?

The Scripture Squad responds...

From: songofjoy - 12:52pm Sep 3, 1999
Peter was given a vision to kill and eat food that was unclean. We know this was to introduce the Gentiles to the kingdom letting the Jews know that God had accepted them. Did this vision also mean that Peter was then able to eat anything clean or not clean or was this just a vision to show how God allows us all to be in the kingdom?

Songofjoy, praise God for your insight. Yes, God gave this vision to Peter to show him that God has provided salvation for ALL nations, not only for the Jews.
"'So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, 'So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.'" Acts 11:17-18.

God had always made provision for other nations to come to Him. Isaiah 56 promises blessings to all nations who choose to be a servant of His. God had told the Hebrews who were redeemed from Egyptian slavery that the Law was to be for all people who joined with them (Deut. 29:10-11). In fact, when we read of the exodus we read that many others traveled out of Egypt with the Hebrews.

From Acts 10 we see that Cornelius was a "God-fearer." A God-fearer (ger in Hebrew) was someone who followed the God of Israel, who gave to the pool, worshipped at the synagogue and Temple, kept the Law, but for whatever reason chose not to make that final step of conversion to Judaism, which was circumcision. God rewarded his faithfulness (Acts 10:1-8).

Peter gives the very best interpretation to God's vision. Acts 10:28 says,

"He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean."

Peter isn't saying that it is against the Mosaic Law, but merely a man-made law or tradition. God's Law is clear that ALL people can come to Him. Peter is clear here that the vision was for Peter to show him that he should not adhere to these man-made traditions, but that the Jewish Messiah is for ALL peoples. The rest of Acts 10 bears this out. Peter again interprets this vision in Acts 11 and explains that the vision meant that Jesus is for all people. As a sidenote, until this time, the only believers in Jesus by faith were Jews. Cornelius is the first recorded Gentile who was welcomed into the followers of Jesus. So, Peter himself gives the answer to your question. The vision had nothing to do with food, but was indeed as you say to show Peter that all are welcome to come to God by faith in the Jewish Messiah. Why would we interpret this in a way that Peter did not?

There are other passages that deal with living controlled by the Holy Spirit (not man-made edicts), several being in Romans 6, Galatians, and Colossians. Surely the message that the Jewish Messiah is for all peoples at all times is the greatest message of all. May God grant you great joy as you continue to study His Word.

- The Scripture Squad :
TCCaleb, TCCaff, RuthCCC & DawnCCC