When we speak with others about being obedient to Torah and eating clean, we almost always get the same responses. One of the responses we get is how Yeshua fulfilled the law and because of that we no longer need to obey it. You can check out what the bible actually says about that here. I want to go through scripture on another response we almost always get regarding Peter’s vision. When we tell people how important it is to stay away from unclean foods, the number one response is Peter’s vision and how Yahuah said that we can eat whatever we want to now. Let’s go through this passage line by line to address this scripture so that we can better understand what is going on. Let’s dig in!

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.” – This is the one and only verse everyone always quotes to us when we are talking about eating clean foods. But let’s keep reading to get a better understanding of what this means. 

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

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. This verse shows that Peter was still wondering what the meaning of the vision actually meant. Why would he be thinking about this still if Yahuah had already made it clear about eating unclean foods?

18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.

20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”

23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.

24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.

26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.

28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. – This right here explains what the vision about the food was about. The food that was on the blanket represented the Gentiles and not actually food. 

29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me

31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.

32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’

33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” – They were waiting for Peter to get there to reveal what the vision meant that he was shown by Yahuah. 

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism – The vision showed Peter not to show favoritism to the Jews only but to treat the Jews and the Gentiles alike. 

35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. – They are to treat both Jews and Gentiles the same as long as they are doing what is right. This is an important verse right here. He says they are to treat everyone the same as long as they “fear” Him and are “doing” what is right. It wasn’t about what they believed but about how they acted.

36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,

40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. – They were to preach to all the people both Jews and Gentiles alike about Yeshua.

43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” – Everyone, both Jew and Gentile has the ability to receive forgiveness. 

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. – The Jews were amazed that even the Gentiles, unclean people, could be saved. 

46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God. Then Peter said,

47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” – Even the Gentiles can now be baptized. 

48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

So Peter’s vision had absolutely nothing to do with food but was all about the Gentiles and how they have the same ability to be saved as the Jews. I hope through reading through this we have been able to gain a better understanding of what this vision was really about.