Peter's Vision of Unclean Animals...You're gonna like this!!!

If you have ever wondered about or tried to explain the meaning of Peter's vision of unclean creatures in the sheet, this is something you need to see!

I found this the other day while I was studying something not related to this subject.  I stumbled onto it and when I read it, I knew exactly where and what it was connected to!  I was really amazed that I had never seen it before.  You know how so many people say that Peter's vision in Acts 10:19-36 is all about how it's okay to eat things that Abba said not to eat??  (You know, in the vision Abba says, "Rise Peter, kill and eat.")  Well, now you can prove that verse is not about food by scriptural reference!!

The Connections of Peter's Vision
Hos 2:18  “And in that day I shall make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping creatures of the ground, when bow, and sword, and battle I break from the earth. And I shall make them lie down in safety. 
In this verse, YHWH is speaking of a covenant which is to be made with the beasts, birds, and creeping creatures or more specifically, the unclean.

Now look at this verse:

Act 10:11  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Act 10:12  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

Act 10:13  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

Peter's vision is of beasts, birds and creeping creatures.  The same unclean things spoken of in Hosea. 

Peter was about to understand and later speak to the fact that these verses were not in reference to food at all.  These two portions of scripture are DIRECTLY connected to each other.  They are in reference to Abba including another group of people into His covenant (the "unclean" or gentile) because of Israel's disobedience.  This is really amazing to see this connection!  In Hosea Abba is warning Israel that He is going to turn away from them for a period of time so that in the end, they will become jealous and seek Him with their whole heart and when they do, He will turn to them again...BUT in the mean time He will turn toward a "people who are not a people" or not a CHOSEN people and they too are to become one with Him because they will keep His covenant because of their faith in Him.

To Further Clarify, Read on...

To give you a clearer picture of what is actually being shown in these verses of scripture, I'll start in Deut. ch. 32 which explains why Israel is gets into trouble and what the consequences will be for their sin.  

Deu 32:17  They (Israel) sacrificed unto devils, not to Elohim; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.   **Israel is disobedient, playing the harlot with gods who their forefathers didn't know.

Deu 32:18  Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten Elohim that formed thee. 

Deu 32:19  And when YHWH saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. 

Deu 32:20  And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. 

Deu 32:21  They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not Elohim; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 

Here is YHWH's announcement that He will hide His face from Israel because of her disobedience AND His purpose in doing this is to make her (Israel) jealous by taking for himself a people “who are no people,” meaning that He is going to take a people to Himself that were not His people...people from among the nations, (gentiles or those who are considered "unclean" because they were without Elohim).

More to connect...

The book of Hosea describes YHWH's plan to take the "unclean" and make it clean, it is a prophetic story of a man who marries an adulterous woman, a shadow picture of Abba's relationship with Israel.  This story is telling us how YHWH is going to deal with His adulterous bride in order to turn her from her hardness of heart back toward her husband (YHWH) and further explains how He will "take a people from among the nations" (the unclean ones) into covenant with Him to accomplish this task.  I'll start in Hosea chapter 1:

Hos 1:9  then He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi (not my people), for you are not My people, and I am not for you.

But in the very next verse, Abba promises that He will restore Israel in the very same place that He divorced or separated himself from her.

Hos 1:10  “Yet the number of the children of Yisra’ĕl shall be as the sand of the sea, which is not measured nor counted. And it shall be in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they shall be called, ‘You are the sons of the living Elohim.

Hos 2:23  “And I shall sow her for Myself in the earth, and I shall have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion. And I shall say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people,’ while they say, ‘My Elohim!’ ”

Hos 2:16  “And it shall be, in that day,” declares יהוה, “that you call Me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Baʽal.’

Hos 2:17  “And I shall remove the names of the Baʽals from her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.  **You will not have the names of others gods on your lips...that is adultery.

Hos 2:18  “And in that day I shall make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping creatures of the ground, (the unclean/gentile) when bow, and sword, and battle I break from the earth.  And I shall make them lie down in safety.

Hos 2:19  “And I shall take you as a bride unto Me forever, and take you as a bride unto Me in righteousness, and in right-ruling, and kindness and compassion.

Hos 2:20  “And I shall take you as a bride unto Me in trustworthiness, and you shall know יהוה.

**Here is the promise to make the covenant with the ones who were considered unclean.  The words are the direct reference to Acts 10 and Peter's vision.  YHWH says not to call "unclean" what He has made clean, specifically speaking of people who were once unclean but now have been called  out of sin.

Now let's look at Acts Chapter 10 and the vision Peter had when the unclean beasts, fowls, and creeping things were brought before him on a “great sheet” knit at the 4 corners (the unclean coming out from  the whole earth...all nations, the four corners of it??).   Peter’s vision is in reference to Hosea Chapter 2 and this promise that YHWH made to take people from among the nations (gentiles) and bring them into covenant with Him.  Those who were once excluded are now included because Israel turned away from her husband, YHWH.

Peter's Vision 

Peter is sent to Cornelius's house.  Cornelius is a gentile who is desiring to hear the WORD of YHWH.  Peter goes to his house because the dream of the sheet reveals Hosea Ch. 2 to him.

Act 10:11  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Act 10:12  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

Act 10:13  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

Act 10:14  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Act 10:15  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Act 10:16  This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

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,

Act 10:18  And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

Act 10:19  While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Act 10:20  Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Act 10:21  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?

Act 10:22  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.

Act 10:23  Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Act 10:24  And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

Act 10:25  And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

Act 10:26  But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

Act 10:27  And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

Act 10:28  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.  **The vision is not about food but about men!

Act 10:29  Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

Act 10:30  And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Act 10:31  And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Act 10:32  Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

Act 10:33  Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Act 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Act 10:35  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Act 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Yahushuah the Messiah: (He is master of all)

Now, in the next verses from the book of Acts, Peter explains the true meaning of the vision and he talks about those who have been called out from among the nations and how that because they believed, they are no longer to be considered "unclean"!!!

  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.

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit (spirit of life), even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Act 15:10  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?

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of theYahushuah Messiah we shall be saved, even as they.

Act 15:12  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.

Act 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Act 15:15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Act 15:16  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:

Act 15:17  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.

Peter is recalling to the people's mind that the scriptures tell them that after a people are called out of the gentiles, Messiah will return and rebuild or repair the tabernacle of David..."THE KINGDOM" the Jewish people have been waiting for...it is the eternal Kingdom that will not be destroyed and all Israel's enemies will be destroyed...AFTER THE FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES BE COMPLETE (WHEN THE GENTILES ARE CALLED OUT OF THE FALSE WORSHIP) He will restore His bride and His Kingdom!!!!!!!!  THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!!!!!

  I pray this is an eye opening study for you as it certainly was for me.  I'm sure this could of been said much more clearly by someone who can write more eloquently than I because I struggle to express what I have been shown.  So, because I lack the abilities to be short and concise, I apologize and I pray you can see past my inadequacies and understand the meaning and depth of this writing.  YHWH is amazing in all His truths and I am in awe of Him and His works created for our salvation, everyday!!!


I pray you are blessed with understanding in the WORD.


Shalom.